Youcef Atal is in the eye of the storm. The 27-year-old player from Nice relayed a video on his Instagram account on Thursday evening containing an anti-Semitic message from a Palestinian preacher calling for a “black day for the Jews”. On France Bleu Azur, the president of the Republicans Éric Ciotti called on the justice system to take up the Atal case.
“It’s unbearable, it’s unacceptable. For me this is an apology for terrorism. I call on justice to take charge,” Ciotti said. “We can’t let this go. We cannot tolerate, whatever the status of the person. It’s not because he’s a footballer that he should be protected.”
“It is not bearable, it is not acceptable to call for the death of Jews,” continued the politician, before calling for a judicial investigation to be able to “shed all the light” and “condemn these comments” which spread a “call to hatred”. The Niçois also expressed his wish to no longer see the right-back play in the Riviera jersey. “I think the question is more than just asking. It’s indecent to see this person, with such comments, continuing to play.”
Even though Atal had quickly deleted his share on Instagram and subsequently apologized, at the request of the mayor of Nice Christian Estrosi, the National Ethics Council of the French Football Federation contacted the commission this weekend of discipline which will examine the file.
On Sunday, Karim Benzema also took a position in the conflict between Hamas and Israel. The former Real Madrid striker posted a message which sparked controversy on his
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