Christophe Galtier stood trial on Friday for accusations of racism throughout his time as coach of his former membership Nice and mentioned a few of the feedback he made throughout that interval had been taken out of context or distorted.
If discovered responsible of psychological harassment and discrimination, the 57-year-old Galtier dangers a most sentence of three years in jail and a nice of 45,000 euros (USD 49,000). After the one-day trial in Nice, a ruling will come at a later date.
Galtier denies accusations that he made racist and anti-Muslim feedback when in control of southern French membership Nice from 2021-22, the place he coached earlier than taking cost of Paris Saint-Germain from 2022-23.
READ | Galtier quits PSG as a coach
Earlier this 12 months, a number of months into his job at PSG, RMC Sport and different French media revealed reviews quoting a leaked e-mail from former Nice director of soccer Julien Fournier to the membership’s homeowners. It accused Galtier of claiming there have been too many Black and Muslim gamers within the squad. During his tenure at Nice, Galtier additionally allegedly mentioned gamers ought to break their quick throughout Ramadan.
These allegations led to a preliminary investigation being opened by Nice prosecutor Xavier Bonhomme into “discrimination on the grounds of alleged race or religion” and searches of the Nice headquarters.
Fournier allegedly mentioned that Galtier particularly complained in August 2021 that Nice had too many Black and Muslim gamers and that it didn’t replicate the ethnological profile of town.
Speaking on the courtroom on Friday, Galtier mentioned these feedback weren’t made by him however addressed to him by three individuals in a restaurant in Nice, in August 2021.
“I’m in the restaurant and three people come up and speak to me about the composition of the team. The comments made are racist comments,” RMC reported Galtier as saying. “I’m shocked and concerned.” Galtier instructed the courtroom that he then knowledgeable Fournier and assistant coach Frédéric Gioria in regards to the incident. Galtier additionally denied an allegation made by Gioria that he used a derogatory time period to explain Algerian gamers Hicham Boudaoui and Youcef Atal.
Galtier led PSG to the Ligue 1 title final season, however PSG was eradicated early within the Champions League and he was sacked in July and changed by former Barcelona coach Luis Enrique.
Galtier now coaches Al-Duhail within the Qatar Stars League.
Source: sportstar.thehindu.com