OGC Nice, a premier club in France’s football league, has enforced an immediate suspension on Algerian international defender Youcef Atal due to a controversial social media post concerning the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Despite Atal’s swift action to delete the contentious post and issue an apology, the club affirmed through a press statement that the “gravity” of his remarks necessitated immediate disciplinary measures, “preceding any potential consequences from sports and legal authorities.”
French prosecutors initiated a preliminary investigation into Atal on Monday, under accusations of “glorifying terrorism.” The Southeastern branch of the Representative Council of French Jewish Institutions (CRIF) filed a complaint against the player on Tuesday.
The prosecutor’s office in Nice confirmed they are examining the case under laws pertaining to the “glorification of terrorism,” following alerts from local politicians. Additionally, the authorities will assess whether the post could be classified as inciting religious hatred or violence.
27-year-old Atal faced an urgent meeting with the club’s management upon his return from national team duties with Algeria, during which he made the post.
The club underscored its ethos and unity, stating, “The reputation and solidarity of OGC Nice are based on the behavior of all its personnel, aligning with the values upheld by the institution,” emphasizing its staunch commitment to ensuring that peace prevails over all other sentiments.
Atal has faced extensive criticism since Saturday for posting a video from a Palestinian preacher on Instagram, allegedly inciting violence against Jews.
The post, condemned by football officials, politicians, a Jewish group, and the Mayor of Nice, was subsequently deleted by Atal, who issued an apology. However, the exact content of the original post has not been independently verified by news agencies.
In the backdrop of heightened tensions, France, home to significant Jewish and Muslim communities, bolstered security following a major offensive launched by Hamas against Israel on October 7. The nation’s alert level escalated in anticipation of potential retaliatory attacks after a teacher was fatally stabbed on Friday by a former student, an act politicians have branded as terrorism.
The French Football Federation (FFF) has remained silent since Sunday, with its ethics committee expected to investigate the player’s conduct.
Responding to the backlash, Atal told his Instagram followers that he does not endorse messages of hate, without specifying why he shared the video initially.
