“Racism has no place in rugby,” World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin warned on Monday of the controversy following the selection of Bastien Chalureau for the France team for the World Cup.
“In France, there is a judicial principle, which is that of the presumption of innocence, which we must respect,” added the leader, insisting on the “values of inclusion” carried by rugby four days from the opening of the World Cup.
Summoned to replace the injured Paul Willemse, the Montpellier second line was sentenced in 2020 by the Toulouse criminal court to six months in prison suspended for “acts of violence with the circumstance that the latter were committed due to the race or ethnicity of the victim. Bastien Chalureau, 31, six caps, denies having uttered racist insults.
Bastien Chalureau made an “appeal, we must let justice take its course and follow through with this legal decision, that is our position,” replied the president of the French Federation Florian Grill, during the opening press conference. of the 2023 World Cup.
“He categorically denies”, “we must let justice do its work, while respecting the presumption of innocence, while remembering (…) that the values of equality, of fraternity, are not negotiable, and that there is obviously no place in sport as elsewhere for racist comments or acts,” added French Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra.
In a letter to Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, two rebellious deputies (LFI) François Piquemal and Thomas Portes, believe “that at this stage of the judicial investigation, summoning the player was not relevant for the France team and its cohesion”.
“Recall that three other French internationals (Romain Taofifenua, Sékou Macalou and Sipili Falatea) were victims of racist comments last March about their presence in the France team from Internet users”, add the two parliamentarians.
“In this context, it seems appropriate to us that the non-selection of Bastien Chalureau be seriously considered. Another possibility being that the player and the Federation publicly announce that they are ready for a strong long-term commitment against racism.
The XV of France, poured into group A, begins Friday evening the World Cup-2023 with an opening shock against New Zealand, triple world champion.
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