2023-10-10 12:26:00
A preliminary investigation targeting former French international Bernard Casoni, coach of the Orléans football club (national, 3rd division), for provoking hatred or racial discrimination and for public insults of a racist nature, was opened on Tuesday , we learned from the prosecution. “I confirm” the opening of the investigation, revealed by France Bleu Orléans, Emmanuelle Bochenek-Puren, Orléans prosecutor, told Agence France-Presse. Former Olympique de Marseille player with 30 caps for the French team, Bernard Casoni, 62, was named coach of US Orléans in June. In the process, the club announced its suspension.
On Monday, France Bleu Orléans published several statements from Bernard Casoni, including one dating from September 21, the day before a match between Orléans and Châteauroux. Asked about the squad’s adherence to his game plan, Bernard Casoni declared at a press conference: “I have done it in all the clubs I have been to, I have done it with North Africans! They’re no more stupid than North Africans, eh… I mean, that’s the role of a coach. »
Closed-door training
Monday evening, the club announced the opening of an internal investigation. “US Orléans has taken note of the accusations reported by France Bleu against Bernard Casoni,” the Loiret club indicated in a press release published on its website. “In view of the seriousness of the facts alleged, the club has decided to launch, without delay, an internal investigation,” added the club, specifying that it would make “no further comments on this situation before the result of this investigation” .
As a coach, Bernard Casoni notably promoted Évian Thonon Gaillard from National to Ligue 2, then from Ligue 2 to Ligue 1 between 2010 and 2012. Tuesday morning, the Loiret club announced on its website that training will be took place behind closed doors, contrary to match eve customs. Orléans, which occupies 17th and penultimate place in the National rankings, must play a match in Cholet on Wednesday.
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