Nice-Matin announces that Youcef Attal was taken into police custody Thursday evening at the Auvare barracks in Nice. The Algerian international could be referred during the day, specifies the daily. The Nice prosecutor had announced the opening of a preliminary investigation for “apology of terrorism and public provocation to hatred or violence” on October 16 but another charge would have been retained, that of “provocation to racial hatred based on religion.
The OGC Nice player found himself at the heart of a controversy after relaying on social networks on October 14 a video of Sheikh Mahmoud al-Hasanat asking God to send “a black day on the Jews” and “to accompany the hand of the Palestinians if they throw stones” after the Hamas attack on Israeli territory.
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Faced with the indignation of the Jewish community, Youcef Atal presented his apologies the next day on his Instagram account: “I am aware that my publication shocked several people, which was not my intention, and I apologize . I would like to clarify my point of view without any ambiguity: I strongly condemn all forms of violence, anywhere in the world, and I support all victims. I will never support a message of hatred. Peace is an ideal in which I firmly believe.”
On Wednesday October 18, the Nice club suspended its defender “until further notice” who had not escaped a sanction from the Professional Football League a little later. Seized by the National Ethics Council of the French Football Federation, the LFP Disciplinary Commission suspended him for seven matches on October 25. The Algerian, however, returned to the field last Sunday with his selection against Mozambique, a month and a half after his last appearance.
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