2023-08-24 19:49:49
The criminal court retained “the insult committed because of the origin of Mr. Akono” and condemned this septuagenarian to three months of imprisonment accompanied by a simple reprieve and to a course of citizenship to be carried out within six months. In respect of non-pecuniary damage, he will have to pay 2,000 euros to Loïc Akono, one euro to the Metz basketball club and €400 to the Licra (International League against Racism and Anti-Semitism), also a civil party. Both the defendant and the player were absent when the judgment was delivered.
At the hearing in early July, the supporter had admitted having used the term “bonobo” to address Loïc Akono, during a match at the end of January of the Charleville-Mézières team against the Messin club “Canonniers” ( National 2, 4th division).
The player then decided to leave the field and then file a complaint. The retiree had assured the court that for him “there was no racist character” in the words “you made a mistake, bonobo” because he did not know the meaning of the word bonobo. He acknowledged that the word, which he says he researched after the fact, could “be confusing” but claimed not to be racist. “I exercise my right to defend myself, but it is also a general fight. It’s not just me who is subjected to racist remarks, whether in everyday life or in sport, ”explained the basketball player after the hearing.
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