Olympique Lyon striker Milan Baros has maintained his innocence after being accused of racially abusing Cameroon`s Stephane Mbia.
The incident occurred during on Wednesday when the defender`s team Stade Rennes held Lyon to a 0-0 draw in a French Ligue One game.
French television showed the former Liverpool and Aston Villa striker pinching his nose and waving his hand at Mbia as if he was repelling an offensive odour.
The Cameroon player said at the end of the game he had been "deeply hurt by the gesture."
Rennes chairman Frederic
Saint-Sernin said he would watch the tape of the incident and could take action against Baros.
The Czech international, who joined Lyon in January from Aston Villa, said in a statement published that he regretted his gesture but denied it was meant to be racist.
"Milan Baros merely wanted to tell (Mbia) something he didn`t know how to say in French: `leave me alone and give me breathing space`," the club said.
"Milan Baros has always denounced any form of racism, in sport and in life in general. Olympique Lyon share Baros`s commitment against racism," the club added.
