“I am always physically ill when I mention it”. Obviously, Damien Comolli has still not digested the racist remarks launched by a TFC supporter against the Rodez goalkeeper during the Ligue 2 match last Monday.
The meeting between Toulouse FC and Rodez during the 18th day of Ligue 2 has, in fact, had to be interrupted by the referee: the Ruthenian goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi said he was called a “dirty monkey” by a supporter a spectator located in the Brice-Taton stand. Damien Comolli therefore held a new press conference to take stock of this affair.
The TFC filed a complaint against X
The president of the TFC called Lionel Mpasi following the incident: “We talked for about fifteen minutes. Psychologically, it must be terrible what he went through. He told me thathe was fine despite everything. He appreciated the fact that I apologized that very evening. I told him we were doing everything we could to find the person. “
Damien Comolli announced that his club had lodged a complaint against X the day after the meeting. The Toulouse public prosecutor’s office then took charge of the case: “From Tuesday, we have put everything in place to collect the most testimonials possible of people who were in contact with supporters during the match. All the documents that the TFC can collect will be made available to the investigators. I can’t tell you much more, an investigation is in progress. As the president of a football club, I never thought I would have to say that sentence. “
“We will not accept a collective sanction”
A disciplinary committee of the Professional Football League took place on Wednesday: it placed the case on hold. The leaders of the TFC should be summoned on January 12 to discuss this case. Damien Comolli made a point of clarifying: “We will not accept a collective sanction. For us, it is the behavior of an isolated individual. We would not understand that we as a club – and that our supporters’ groups are subjected to – a collective sanction such as a stadium closure or a stand closed. ”
“This person has to be identified first.”
If the author of the insults is identified, the TFC may sanction him. “The Larrivé law allows us to impose a stadium commercial ban“, specifies Damien Comolli. “We will be firm and exemplary. This person must first be identified. But once he is, believe me, we will have no hesitation in sanctioning it for the longest possible time provided for by the Larrivé law. ”