2023-10-10 11:41:46
Bernard Casoni, coach of US Orléans. FRANCOIS NASCIMBENI / AFP
Justice has decided to enter the field. The Orléans prosecutor, Emmanuelle Bochenek-Puren, confirmed to AFP on Tuesday the opening of a preliminary investigation targeting Bernard Casoni, the coach of the Union sportif Orléans Loiret football (USO), which plays in the National, the third French division, for incitement to hatred or racial discrimination and for public insults of a racist nature.
Following this announcement, the USO announced the sidelining of the former player. “US Orléans has taken the decision to suspend Mr. Bernard Casoni from his position as coach of the professional team for the duration of the internal investigation”announced the club in a press release.
On Monday October 9 evening, the club had already announced its intention to open this internal investigation after the former international player was accused by France Bleu Orléans of having made racist remarks. A decision made ” without delay “, “in view of the seriousness of the facts invoked”explained the USO in a press release.
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According to France Bleu Orléans, at least five players from the club heard Bernard Casoni, 62, make racist remarks. This is confirmed by several members of the training management and local radio journalists, certain comments having been made during a press conference. Another damning testimony, cited by the antenna, mentions a request from Mr. Casoni to “whiten” the workforce he leads.
On September 21, on the eve of a match between the USO and Châteauroux, in response to a question about his team’s difficulties, the coach stated: « [Les joueurs] have things they excel at. But there are things where it’s not enough. This is where you have to be more efficient, where you have to erase that. My role is to tell them, show them and help them solve problems. That’s it that’s all. I did it in all the clubs I went to, I did it with North Africans! They’re no more stupid than North Africans, eh… I mean, that’s the role of a coach. »
“No need for chasubles for them, they are already black”
The radio also reports the anonymous testimony of a player, confirmed by another, about a scene which took place in August, during training. “We were doing an exercise where two teams compete five against five. My team consisted entirely of players of color. There, the coach says: “No need for pinafores for them, they are already black”, supposedly in a humorous tone. It shocked me. »
On the radio, the Orléans coach refutes these accusations. “My statement about the Maghrebs at a press conference is to tell my players that they are as intelligent as the Maghrebssays Bernard Casoni. I worked there for six years and you think I’m racist? » The former OM and Blues player also denies having “asked to clear the workforce”.
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“I just want there to be a balance in the team, replies Casoni. A community should not be over-represented. If there are too many hoops, it’s not good. The same if there are too many Africans or too many whites. » Concerning the episode of the bibs, the coach justifies himself as follows: “It’s chambering!” I’m a guy from the South, it’s football, it’s just chambering. Today, we can no longer say anything. »
Bernard Casoni has been coach of US Orléans since June. As a player, he won the Champions League with Marseille in 1993, and was selected thirty times for the French team. Having become a coach, he took Evian Thonon Gaillard FC (which has since become Thonon Evian Grand Genève FC) up from National to Ligue 2, then from Ligue 2 to Ligue 1, between 2010 and 2012. Orléans currently occupies 17th and before last place in the National ranking.
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