In supporting this Thursday on social networks his former defender Samuel Umtiti, “victim of racist songs during the Lecce-Lazio match” the day before, Olympique Lyonnais probably did not expect to receive many comments from supporters referring to the recent recruitment by Dejan Lovren. Because the 33-year-old central defender, whose return to Lyon (after a stint from 2010 to 2013) was formalized on Monday, is at the heart of a big non-sporting controversy.
The day after the third place obtained by his Croatian selection at the World Cup in Qatar, a video, which shows Dejan Lovren and his teammate Marcelo Brozovic (Inter Milan) taking over a rallying song of the Ustashi, Nazi collaborators during the Second World War, was released on December 19 on Twitter. All while performing a fascist salute.
“We are in a sports press conference”
Many OL supporters, already uncomfortable with the conviction of Jérôme Boateng, upon his arrival in September 2021 (then on appeal last November), for assault and battery against his former partner, point to this controversy concerning another central defender. The question was therefore asked this Thursday at a press conference at Laurent Blanc, two days before the 32nd final of the Coupe de France against Metz.
“It’s a nationalist song for the liberation of his country, believes the Lyonnais coach. I will not answer for him. I saw a very respectful man with his family, Me, I look a bit sporty and Dejan fulfilled what we were looking for. He’s a good recruit as a footballer, someone with experience because we lacked it behind. He knew the very high level and he can speak French. If we look at the man, it’s your judgment… There are a lot of shocking subjects at the moment. We can understand it, but here we are in a sports press conference. »