Celtic hero Bobo Balde in psychiatric hospital after comments outside school

FORMER Celtic defender Bobo Balde was last night taken to an emergency psychiatric unit in Marseille for 'disturbing' comments he made outside a school.

The Celtic hero had reportedly left parents and staff worried when he made 'threatening' remarks outside Ecole Accates la Valentine, a public primary school located in his home city Marseille .

4 Bobo Balde playing for Celtic Credit: David Henderson - The Sun Glasgow

4 He was a cult hero at Parkhead Credit: Kenny Ramsay - The Sun Glasgow

4 Balde pictured on scene

La Provence claim Balde turned up at the school on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and was taken away by cops and admitted to a psychiatric ward yesterday.

It's reported the Hoops legend was deliberately hit by a car and punched in the face by a parent after frightening those in the vicinity.

Balde was said to have been preaching about a 'mission' he plans to carry out before he dies and was left injured by witnesses and had to be treated by firefighters on scene.

The former Guinean international was questioned by cops as a victim after being hit by the car and struck in the face.

A police source said: "He's a very nice person, but he started to make somewhat incoherent remarks, even at the police station.

"But he did not wish to file a complaint, stating that his behavior may have worried the parents of the students."

Balde does not have any kids at the school and police were deployed at the school to reassure parents and staff following Tuesday's incident.

He was seen again on Wednesday and Thursday, before cops were called in to arrest him.

But given his appearance, Balde was reportedly taken to the psychiatric emergency room at Timone Hospital .

It's being reported that the former defender appeared as if he was in a daze, making claims about the future and stating he 'had things to do' in a worrying declaration.

Balde, now 49, was ordered away from the scene by local mayor Sylvain Souvestre who deployed police officers to the school.

Balde was a cult hero at Parkhead after spending eight seasons with Celtic, winning 10 trophies.

He made 232 appearances for the Hoops and helped them win three league titles, a Scottish Cup and two League Cups.

He was famously sent off in the final of the 2003 Uefa Cup final against Porto.

1995-1999 - Marseille, zero appearances

1997-1998 - Mulhouse (Loan), 38 appearances, one goal

1998-1999 - Cannes (Loan), 30 appearances, four goals

1999-2001 - Toulouse, 58 appearances, one goal

2001-2009 - Celtic, 232 appearances, 16 goals

2009-2011 - Valenciennes, 28 appearances, one goal

2011-2013 - Arles-Avignon, 41 appearances, zero goals

International level: Guinea, 52 caps, two goals

The towering centre-back was born in Marseille, France but opted to represent the Guinea national team.

He was capped 52 times by Guinea, scoring two goals.

Balde started his career at Marseille and played for Toulouse, Valenciennes and Arles-Avignon, with loan spells at Mulhouse and Cannes earlier in his career.

He was a coach at CA Gombertois in Marseille after retiring between 2014 and 2019, then took over as manager of the Guinea Under-20s team between 2019 and 2021.

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