US Orléans coach Bernard Casoni is summoned for a preliminary interview with a view to dismissal

US Orléans coach Bernard Casoni, who had already been suspended from his duties since Tuesday October 10, was laid off as a precautionary measure, France Bleu Orléans learned on Wednesday October 18 from a source close to the matter. Accused of having made racist remarks, he was summoned on October 25 for a preliminary interview with a view to dismissal. Benoît Darcy and Bertrand Baillou continue to act in the interim.

>> Football: US Orléans coach Bernard Casoni accused of making racist remarks

The club opened an internal investigation on October 9 after the revelations of France Bleu Orléans: five players from the US Orléans football club, starters and substitutes, reported racist remarks made by Bernard Casoni, including the phrase : “You are no more stupid than North Africans!”

According to information from France Bleu Orléans, several members of the USO organization chart confirm these comments. Racist words were, for example, uttered by the club’s technician during a press conference at which France Bleu Orléans was present, on September 21, on the eve of a match between US Orléans and Châteauroux. Bernard Casoni is then questioned about the difficulties encountered in getting players to adhere to his principles. This internal investigation has been completed since Monday October 16.

The Orléans public prosecutor’s office opened a preliminary investigation on Monday, October 10, for provocation of hatred or racial discrimination and for public insults of a racist nature. Bernard Casoni rejects these accusations. He filed a complaint against X for slanderous denunciation.