The prefect of Hérault evokes a “deliberate choice” not to “develop the female practice of football” and considers that the club logo does not respect neutrality.
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The Hérault prefecture has decided to withdraw its approval from the Sète Olympique Football Club football club, thus depriving the club of its public subsidies, due to “community practices” detected within it, reports Thursday April 25 France Bleu Hérault.
“An inspection of state services revealed community practices within the Sète Olympique Football Club association”explains the prefecture on “deliberate choice not to develop the practice of women’s football” And “the absence of neutrality linked to the use of an emblematic sign of the Muslim religion as the club’s logo, affixed to the players’ jerseys”.
No more subsidies or access to municipal facilities
“Consequently, I have decided to withdraw the approval granted to the sports association Sète Olympique Football Club resulting from its affiliation with the French Football Federation”, continues the prefecture. Due to this decision, the municipality of Sète “will not pay this association the subsidy voted for the year 2024 and will put an end to the provision of sports equipment in the municipality”, ends the prefecture.
Around 70 footballers are licensed in this club, according to France Bleu Hérault. The association has two months to file an appeal. Through the voice of Me Sefen Guez Guez, she “denies all of the accusations against her.” The lawyer denounces “pure display” and talks about decision “disproportionate and manifestly illegal”. He announces that “the prefect’s order was challenged before the administrative court of Montpellier” and that a public hearing “will be held Monday May 16”.
