2023-10-19 00:43:20
The OGC Nice, a French first division football club, announced on Wednesday the suspension “until further orders” of its full-back Youcef Atal, who was investigated for “advocating terrorism” after a controversial publication on social networks about the conflict between Israel and the Islamist group Hamas.
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Even if the Algerian international quickly deleted the publication and apologized, the club explained in a statement that it had opted for sanctions prior to those that could be adopted by sporting or judicial institutions “taking into account the nature of the shared publication and its seriousness.”
Having been with the Algeria national team since October 9, Atal was called up as soon as he arrived in Nice by the club’s leaders, who spoke with him.
“We want to emphasize that the reputation and unity of the OGC Nice are the result of the behavior of all its employees, who must be in accordance with the values defended by the institution,” explained the club, reaffirming “its firm commitment so that peace prevails.” above all consideration.”
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Since Saturday, various people and entities, such as the mayor of Nice Christian Estrosi and the Representative Council of the Jewish Institutions of France (CRIF), denounced that the defender of Algeria published a video on his Instagram account of a speaker who, according to these sources, made anti-Semitic statements and called for violence.
The post was deleted by the OGC Nice defender and AFP has not been able to independently verify its content.
On Monday, the Nice prosecutor announced the opening of a preliminary investigation for “advocacy of terrorism” and “incitement to hatred or violence based on a particular religion.” On Tuesday, the CRIF also filed a complaint against the player.
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From a sporting point of view, the ethics council of the French Football Federation (FFF) is also investigating the Algerian defender.
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