A preliminary investigation has been opened for suspicion of “discrimination based on alleged race or affiliation to a religion” after the accusations against former Nice coach Christophe Galtier, the Nice prosecutor said on Twitter on Friday.
This investigation entrusted to the judicial police is “in connection” with the accusations against Mr. Galtier, confirmed Xavier Bonhomme to AFP, adding that searches “are in progress within the premises of OGC Nice “, confirming initial information from Nice Matin.
Mr. Bonhomme confirmed the existence of a “preliminary investigation entrusted on his own initiative yesterday (Thursday) to the Nice PJ on the grounds of discrimination based on an alleged race or belonging to a religion”. “Searches are underway within the premises of OGC Nice,” added the Nice prosecutor in this message posted at the end of the morning.
Contacted by AFP, Christophe Galtier’s lawyer did not respond immediately. The 56-year-old technician has been facing a growing controversy since Tuesday evening and the publication, by the independent journalist Romain Molina then the media RMC Sports, of an email attributed to the former director of OGC Nice, Julien Fournier, who reports comments deemed discriminatory by Galtier about part of the Nice locker room.
In this exchange, Julien Fournier reports in particular these remarks attributed to Christophe Galtier: “He then replied that I had to take into account the reality of the city and that indeed, we could not have as many blacks and Muslims in the team and he told me of his desire to change the team in depth, also specifying that he wanted to limit the number of Muslim players as much as possible”. This message, which AFP could not authenticate, was sent at the end of last season to Dave Brailsford, Sport Director at Ineos, the petrochemical group that owns the Nice club, to denounce racist and Islamophobic statements in as part of membership building or group management.
On Wednesday, Paris SG coach Christophe Galtier “challenged with the greatest firmness” having made discriminatory remarks about players when he officiated in Nice, his lawyer said in a statement sent to AFP. Mr. Galtier, current coach of Paris SG, was present Friday morning at training at Camp des Loges, his face closed, according to an AFP journalist. He must speak at the beginning of the afternoon during a press conference.
