This Wednesday evening, the National meeting between AS Nancy-Lorraine and Red Star (1-1) was marked by monkey cries coming from the stands of the Marcel-Picot stadium. An incident denounced at the final whistle by Ile-de-France coach Habib Beye at the microphone of the broadcaster Canal. The day after the events, Nancy published a press release this Thursday at noon. According to Lorraine leaders, the incidents occurred after the match when the opposing players went to greet their supporters.
“The ASNL wishes to condemn with the greatest firmness the unacceptable and intolerable behavior of some people present in the stands of the Marcel Picot Stadium this Wednesday, as well as to provide its support and apologize to the Red Star players,” said reacted the Lorraine club.
“After viewing video surveillance images last night, the club identified an individual, whose identity remains unknown at this time. A procedure was immediately opened with the help of the police authorities present on site,” added the ASNL, inviting possible witnesses to the scene to contact the club or the police. The ASNL “does not want to be associated in any way with the behavior of individuals who have no place in a football stadium”.
But Nancy’s leaders did not appreciate certain statements from Habib Beye: “ASNL also wishes to point out that it will not accept any comments about it which would suggest that the club is turning a blind eye to this type of behavior. », insisted the leaders of the team currently 14th in National.
At the same time, Red Star also communicated, following in the footsteps of ASNL.
“Red Star calls for exemplary punishment against the perpetrators of these despicable actions, which must not be trivialized. In this sense, we salute the management of Nancy who is doing everything possible to identify the authors. We will also contact the French Football Federation and the competent authorities by providing them with the visual and audio evidence we have to defend our players, our honor and our values.”
Following the comments of the two clubs, the French Football Federation reacted in turn, ensuring the opening of a disciplinary procedure. “The FFF announces that its disciplinary committee will open a disciplinary procedure concerning the alleged racist incidents observed on Wednesday October 11 during the AS Nancy-Lorraine – Red Star match, at the Marcel-Picot stadium, in the National,” we can read in the press release. The FFF also wishes to join the AS Nancy-Lorraine complaint procedure against the alleged troublemaker(s). The FFF is determined to combat racist behavior observed in football, with the greatest firmness and severity.
The FFF disciplinary committee should study the facts at its next meeting scheduled for next Thursday, once the reports from the delegate and the referee are in its possession.
