Speaking ahead of OGC Nice’s match against Olympique de Marseille, manager Francesco Farioli and club captain Dante have spoken about one of the players who will miss the ‘Mediterranean Derby,’ Youcef Atal (27).
Whilst on international duty with Algeria, Atal shared an anti-semitic video on social media, which called for God to send “Jewish people a dark day.” The post was quickly deleted and the player publicly apologised the following day. However, there are further repercussions. The Mayor of Nice intervened calling on Atal to “denounce Hamas terrorists.”
It was then reported that the LFP would investigate the incident before the Nice Public Prosecutor announced that they would also be launching an enquiry. Upon Atal’s return to Nice, he held a meeting with the club, and it was announced by Le Gym that Atal would be suspended until further notice.
“Taking into account the nature and the seriousness of the post shared, the club has taken the decision to immediately take its first disciplinary sanctions before those that may be taken by the sporting and judiciary authorities […] the club has decided to suspend Youcef Atal until further notice,” read Nice’s statement on Wednesday. Farioli and Dante have now responded to Atal’s suspension.
“Youcef knows he’s made a mistake. I’ve known him for five years and I have never seen him so sad and so devastated. I see how he is with my children and his relationships with those around him. I’m convinced he wants peace around the world. At the minute, he is really sad, disappointed and devastated by this story,” Dante told Gym Tonic.
“The club was very clear in the press release,” began Farioli, in a press conference attended by Get French Football News. “If I can add something as a human being and as the father of a family, what is happening is a humanitarian catastrophe. We in sport have a platform and we need to send a message of peace in the face of this humanitarian catastrophe,” added the Italian ahead of Saturday’s match against Marseille.
“Youcef is a player that we all like and an important player. A sportsperson has rights but also obligations, and the decision communicated by the club is very clear on the subject of this suspension. It all goes beyond sport,” added Farioli.
GFFN | Luke Entwistle
