The Orléans football club (National, 3rd division) announced Tuesday that it was suspending its coach, former international Bernard Casoni, from his duties, the target of an internal investigation as well as a judicial investigation for accusations of racism.
“US Orléans has taken the decision to suspend Mr. Bernard Casoni from his position as coach of the professional team for the duration of the internal investigation,” the Loiret team, which occupies the position, announced in a press release. penultimate place in the National rankings.
The preliminary judicial investigation targeting the former French international for incitement to 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 AFP. Former Olympique de Marseille player with 30 caps for the French team, Bernard Casoni, 62, was named coach of US Orléans in June.
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.”
Monday evening, the club announced the opening of an internal investigation. “US Orléans has taken note of the accusations reported by France Bleu against Mr. 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 brought Evian Thonon Gaillard up 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 was taking place behind closed doors, contrary to match eve habits.
Orléans, which occupies 17th and penultimate place in the National rankings, must play a match in Cholet on Wednesday.