OGC Nice has decided to suspend its player Youcef Atal “until further notice”. The decision, announced this Wednesday morning by the club, was taken while the Algerian international is under preliminary investigation for “apology of terrorism” after sharing a video in Instagram story calling for “one day black for the Jews.
“Given the nature of the publication […] and its seriousness”, in the context of the Hamas – Israel war, “the club took the decision to immediately take the first disciplinary sanctions against the player” and in particular “to suspend Youcef Atal until further notice” , it is written in a press release. The management of OGC Nice specifies having “summoned and exchanged” with him “as soon as he returned from the Algerian national team, where he had been since October 9”.
“The values defended by the institution”
“The reputation and unity of OGC Nice result from the behavior of all of its employees who must be in agreement with the values defended by the institution,” justifies the club. It also recalls that the suspension of Youcef Atal is prior to other possible sanctions “which could be decided by the sporting and judicial authorities”, recalls the club.
On Monday, the Nice prosecutor’s office announced the opening of a “preliminary investigation” targeting the player on charges of “apology of terrorism” and “public provocation to hatred or violence on the basis of a specific religion”. . The ethics council of the French Football Federation (FFF) was also contacted.
The player apologized on Instagram
The Algerian international’s Instagram story, in which he broadcast a video of Sheikh Mahmoud al-Hasanat, constituted “calls for violence” according to the president of the FFF. The Palestinian preacher notably asked God to “follow the hand” of the inhabitants of Gaza “if they throw stones”.
Youcef Atal has since apologized. “I am aware that my publication shocked several people, which was not my intention and I apologize,” he reacted on Sunday on the social network. He also specified that he wanted to “clarify [son] unambiguous point of view: I firmly condemn all forms of violence, wherever in the world, and I support all victims.” “I will never support a message of hatred. Peace is an ideal in which I firmly believe,” he concluded.