The prosecutor demanded a ten-month suspended prison sentence and a fine of 45,000 euros against Youcef Atal, tried this Monday by the Nice criminal court for provoking hatred. She also requested that the judgment, which should be rendered at the end of the day, be posted for a month on Instagram.
The Algerian defender of OGC Nice is being prosecuted for having shared a video on the social network calling for a “black day” for Jews. The story, published a few days after the attacks perpetrated by Hamas on October 7, sparked strong reactions and the player ended up apologizing.
“I didn’t want to hurt anyone”
Present at the hearing this Monday, the 27-year-old footballer defended himself by explaining that he had “not watched the video to the end” before broadcasting it. In the sequence in question, preacher Mahmoud Al Hasanat, moved to tears, evokes the fate of the children of Gaza. Before calling on God to send “a dark day on the Jews” and to “accompany the hand” of the inhabitants of Gaza if they “throw the stone”. “I didn’t want to hurt anyone,” assured Youcef Atal at the Nice courthouse.
The 27-year-old player, cited Friday as a witness during the trial of his ex-coach Christophe Galtier for harassment and discrimination, mainly against Muslim players at OGC Nice, is suspended by his club. Pending this trial, he was placed under judicial supervision with a bail of 80,000 euros and a ban on leaving the national territory, except for his activity as a professional footballer.