The player is suspended “until further notice” by the club, France Bleu Azur learned on Wednesday. He apologized after relaying a video calling for “a black day for the Jews”.
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Suspected of “apology for terrorism”, OGC Nice defender Youcef Atal is suspended by the club “until further notice”, reports France Bleu Azur on Wednesday October 18. The player apologized after posting a video on Instagram calling for “a dark day for the Jews”. “I am aware that my publication shocked several people, which was not my intention, and I apologize for that”, he wrote on this same social network. The Nice public prosecutor’s office has opened a preliminary investigation for “apology of terrorism” and “public incitement to hatred or violence based on a specific religion”.
In a press release published Wednesday, OGC Nice notes “that the player recognized his mistake by quickly removing the sharing of the publication and presented his written and public apologies”. However, “given the nature of the shared publication and its seriousness, the club has taken the decision to immediately take the first disciplinary sanctions against the player, prior to those which could be decided by the sporting and judicial authorities”.
The club management “would like to emphasize that the reputation and unity of OGC Nice results from the behavior of all of its employees who must be in accordance with the values defended by the institution.” In this case, he undertakes “so that peace prevails over all other considerations.”