Nice’s Algerian defender Youcef Atal He was arrested and will stand trial on December 18, accused of inciting hatred for religious reasons, for sharing a video on social networks in which a Palestinian preacher called for an attack on Israel.
The football player, who has been under investigation since October and was suspended by his club, was referred to the courthouse. 80,000 euro bail The Nice Prosecutor’s Office cited the ban on leaving France except for reasons related to football activities.
According to the Nice Matin newspaper, although the investigations launched against him initially pointed to charges of advocating terrorism and inciting the public to hatred and violence, the accusation that led to his recent provisional arrest points to a possible terrorist crime. “Instigation of racial hatred on the basis of religion.”
Following the terrorist attacks carried out by the armed wing of the Islamist group Hamas on October 7 and the subsequent attack on Gaza, the football player published a video of a Palestinian preacher pleading with God to send him. “A dark day for the Jews” The prosecutor’s office said they were asked to accompany the “hands” of Strip residents who were “throwing stones” at Israel.
The messages caused a reaction from the president of the French Football Federation (FFF). Philippe Diallo, deeming them “against the morality” of the sport and motivating both the mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, French Jewish institutions demanded an investigation.
The football player, who did not hide his support for the Palestinian people, later apologized on social networks. We condemned “all forms of violence” and showed solidarity with the victims. “I will never support the message of hate”The 27-year-old Algerian national football player said: He has been playing for Nice since 2018.
Atal, who played with his national team against Mozambique this weekend, had played before. A similar scandal in 2020 And I had to apologize.