Bruno Genesio (left) and Christophe Galtier (right). FRANCK FIFE / AFP
In the turmoil, Christophe Galtier is supported by some of his former players and managers.
In the tournament. Accused of Islamophobia and racism by the former sports director of OGC Nice Julien Fournier, Christophe Galtier – who “contests with the greatest firmness” the facts – is supported by several personalities from the world of football who have rubbed shoulders with him in recent years.
Among them are two of his former players at LOSC, with whom he won the French championship in 2020-2021. The first to speak up to defend the French technician is Burak Yilmaz (37): “I read the news today and felt I had to say something. I worked with Galtier and never felt any negative behavior from him because of my religion or nationality. He’s a great fantastic coach and a great person“, published the Turkish center-forward on his social networks.
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José Fonte (39), the central defender of the Portuguese, who still plays for the Dogues, followed suit: “In three years of working with Mr. Galtier, he has always been close to his players and, above all, very respectful. It is heartbreaking to read some news today. I have nothing but good things to say about this man“, did he declare.
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Mevlut Erding ready to “plead in his favor»
Mevlut Erding (36), who knew Christophe Galtier at FC Sochaux-Montbéliard and AS Saint-Etienne, also wanted to support the French technician: “Christophe Galtier is a very good friend of mine before becoming a coach and I have known him for almost 15 years. I worked with him for four or five years, whether at Sochaux or Saint-Etienne. I didn’t feel any racism from him, said the Turkish striker in comments reported by L’Équipe. I myself was doing Ramadan when I was under his orders and I can tell you that he gave us the choice, he respected it. There really was no racism.” The former Paris SG player also added:If I can argue on his behalf, I will.»
Roland Romeyer also defends it
In addition to these two players, Christophe Galtier was defended by one of his former leaders: Roland Romeyer, chairman of the board of AS Saint-Etienne. “Pardon ? Christophe Galtier racist? What is this bullshit ? There are things that are not acceptable. Christophe has never made any racist remarks in Saint-Étienne“, he made a point of underlining in an interview granted to the Parisian .
Read alsoGaltier affair: “The truth will come out … but not today”, loose the Nice coach, Didier Digard
Before relating ahistory with ramadan” during an internship in Evian but who “has nothing to do with discrimination» : «It was very very hot, he says. And Christophe called me to tell me that two players, Faouzi Ghoulam and Idriss Saadi, were practicing Ramadan. With the heat, he feared a heart problem, explains the Saint-Etienne leader. It was really a health issue. At my request, we brought in an imam from Lyon who explained to the players that they could take a break from their fast in the event of too intense physical effort. But Christophe was really worried about the health of his players.»
Bruno Genesio “never heard him say things like this”
Bruno Genesio, the current coach of Stade Rennes, who “know wellChristophe Galtier also defended himself on Thursday. “What I can say is that I know Christophe well. I never heard him say the words attributed to him today. So. I have the opportunity to meet him in football as well as outside of football and I have never heard him say things like this.said the ex-Lyonnais in remarks reported by RMC Sport . Now if people say things like that, they have to talk about it. But I find that today, me, all I have to say is that I have never heard this kind of remark. Neither privately nor with other people.This case should continue to generate a lot of ink over the next few hours and days.
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