2023-12-17 01:05:11
“I heard,” “I can’t say that he said that,” “there may be some truth, but what is it?” “. Noises from the corridors, antagonistic declarations to say the least and whispers emerging from the usually hushed locker room of OGC Nice dominated the debates on Friday at the trial of Christophe Galtier before the Nice judicial court.
The former Riviera and PSG coach was prosecuted in particular for discrimination based on origin, ethnicity or nationality and moral harassment. He risks big. Prosecutor Damien Martinelli requested twelve months of suspended imprisonment and a fine of 45,000 euros.
In a black suit and white shirt, with a closed face, the Marseillais, currently stationed in Qatar, listened for long hours to the interviews collected by investigators… from the anti-terrorist section of the PJ. A cast of Prévert-style testimonies with secretaries, video managers, trainers, managers, including the Nice president Rivère, and players like Todibo, Boudaoui or Atal (but curiously not Captain Dante). All absent at the hearing.
Julien Fournier absent from the hearing
It is above all the accusations of racism and discrimination made by Julien Fournier, the former football director of OGC Nice, in an email from May 2022 addressed to the management of Ineos, owner of the club, which magnetized the debates . The noted absence of “the chief prosecutor”, ironically said by the defense, will not have prevented the plunge into a deleterious atmosphere within the OGCN.
Did Christophe Galtier, who was in police custody on June 30, really complain about having “too many blacks and Arabs” in his workforce? Did he consider it “inadmissible for a Muslim to lead the reserve team” regarding Didier Digard? Did he make fun of two players by calling them “King Kong” with proven racist connotations? Did he really declare that Jean-Clair Todibo was “a Salafist who was going to come and kill everyone with a machine gun?” “.
” Fake ! Archifaux!, he repeats in a loud voice. It’s manipulation, the relationship that I can have with the players, few coaches have that. It is terrible to tell such a lie with the consequences it can have on my wife, my children and me,” he defends himself on the verge of tears. “For me, the term King Kong evokes strength and power,” he explains. Arguments firmly refuted by the public prosecutor who claims “a background of ordinary racism. »
Ramadan 2022 at the heart of the matter
In this trial where “words against words” dominates, where a mysterious list of players crossed out on a paper board is discussed because of their Muslim religion, one thing is certain: the period of Ramadan between April 1 and May 1, 2022 crystallized strong tensions within the club.
According to his accusers, Galtier would have put pressure on certain players to prevent them from fasting on match days, including Hicham Boudaoui who had missed a snack before a Ligue 1 match. “The nutritionist got up at 4 a.m. to put in place places the only meal, explains Galtier. He had his last one the day before at 10 p.m. I wonder how he’s going to perform? My anger finally passes, he participates in the match. »
End of the story ? Not really. “Ramadan for a professional club is a given, for Galtier it is a problem,” criticizes the prosecutor. The discrimination as it has manifested itself is not acceptable. I didn’t feel any awareness.” The coach takes it without blinking.
His lawyers, who denounce a “schoolyard” atmosphere which led to this “slander”, do not like it. “I have seen generalizations (…) but where is the evidence? We are no longer in the inquisition (…) But how can we defend ourselves? » asks Me Sébastien Schapira. “You will relax, Mr. President, there is nothing!” We must put out the smoldering fire! » concludes his colleague Olivier Martin. After more than ten hours of debate, Galtier leaves the court escorted by his bodyguard, surrounded by his family. He will know his fate on December 21.
#Corridor #noises #tense #Ramadan #ordinary #racism #Galtier #decides #fate