From the sidelines to the dock. This Friday, Christophe Galtier left his Al-Duhail coach costume in the locker room to appear at the Nice criminal court. The French technician is on trial following the investigation opened on April 13 by the Nice prosecutor concerning “counts of moral harassment and discrimination based on membership or non-membership, true or supposed, to a specific ethnic group, nation, alleged race or religion.” It all started with an e-mail sent by Julien Fournier, former director of football for the Aiglons. The latter, who does not have very good relations with the former PSG coach, made shocking revelations about him.
His behavior towards certain players, in relation to their skin color or their religion, has been singled out. Galtier has always denied it, he who risks three years in prison and a 45,000 euro fine. Arriving with a closed face at his trial, “Galette”, who filed a complaint for defamation against Fournier and two journalists, did not intend to let it happen. Called to the stand, he agreed to answer all questions even though the LFP and LICRA became civil parties and no player from the Riviera club was present. Then, Galtier’s counsel, Me Sébastien Schapira and Me Olivier Martin, went on the offensive. Their remarks are relayed by RMC Sport.
Galtier explained himself on the stand
Me Schapira spoke of disloyalty and accused Julien Fournier. Subsequently, Christophe Galtier’s lawyers requested the nullity of the procedure for their client. The court will therefore judge this request at the same time as the rest. After a suspension of the hearing, Christophe Galtier was called to the stand. After refusing to answer a question about his income, the 57-year-old coach was able to speak. “When I was summoned to police custody, it was a difficult time in terms of my safety. I moved from Cassis to Nice. I faced decent police officers, who did their job. As the police custody progressed, I realized that I was being questioned for the prosecution. Gradually, I closed off and found it difficult to respond. I will answer all the questions today.”
His departure to Paris Saint-Germain, after only one season in Nice, challenged the court. Galtier explained himself on the subject. “The day after our last match and the European qualification in Nice, I had contact with Luis Campos. Then it took a while. Because there were the decision-makers and I had a contract. During this period, I continued to work with Nice, because I was asked to do so. And it’s my professional conscience because I didn’t know if I was going to be the lucky one. I worked in mid-June on the following season in Nice. Then, the president of the court proceeded to read the famous e-mail sent by Julien Fournier to Ineos.
He responded to the various accusations
Very serious and attentive, “Galette”, who was accompanied by his relatives, was relieved upon reading the report of Jean-Pierre Rivère, who accuses Julien Fournier of having “decided to kill professionally” Galtier. Ditto regarding the hearing of Dave Brailsford, who mentioned relationships “toxic” between Galtier and Fournier. Then, “Galette” was invited to speak about Ramadan. “As I have done in all the clubs and groups I have had to manage, the question of fasting is a problem. We have these questions at the very start of the season. This does not cause anything. It’s right when we see the calendar with Ineos’ ambitions to bring Nice to the Champions League. I am very happy to work with Julien Fournier and in Nice. And I look at the calendar. When I see the decisive matches of the period with three per week. My experience as an assistant and team manager, I know that the window is important in relation to what we are going to put in place during the period.
Questioned about the racist comments he allegedly made, Galtier, accused by his former deputy Frédéric Gioria, whom he allegedly asked to vote for the National Rally, was very clear. “If I had made these comments, they would be racist and discriminatory. I want to go back. When I arrive from Lille, I have to arrive with all of my staff. It turns out that after 24 hours, I was unable to recruit them. And so, Frédéric Gioria came to the staff, he is very close. When I arrive at a club, I rely on someone who knows it to feed me about the locker room and the history. In January 2022, I have a discussion with Julien Fournier where I ask him not to work with Frédéric Gioria. Why does Julien Fournier ask me? For incompetence. Point. I did not make these comments (racist, editor’s note).
“Galette” lets go of its truths
He pursues : “There are some false statements and others distorted. In August 2021, I am at a restaurant and three people come to ask me about building the team. The remarks made are racist remarks. In all the clubs where I worked, I had never had this kind of remarks, in Saint-Etienne and Lille. I am shocked and challenged. I take these words. In the morning, I made this remark to him and explained to him that I took this remark as racist. He (Gioria) said to me: “this is Nice”. After training, I explain to him about my August evening. I tell him it’s racist. He (Julien Fournier) says nothing. I confirm the comments of customers in the restaurant at the bar”. Then he indicated that his remarks were distorted and that he never called Hicham Boudaoui and Youcef Atal “dirty guys” reports RMC Sport.
Concerning the Todibo case, he confided: “on March 26, I spoke with Jean-Clair Todibo about the performances. It’s more than a coach-player exchange. Frédéric Gioria is the most racist person I have met in football. Ramadan the year before was a real mess. Some slept on the floor. I ask to see Todibo. I meet him in an office and I talk to him about managing fasting on match day. He looks at me politely. He is converted, I knew it. We keep it short and he tells me: “Coach. I have a boss who is moving in with me. He has put all the conditions in place to remain the most efficient. I am not changing my position. I will practice fasting on the day of the match “. I am more than upset because the relationship with my players is that of father-son. And I find myself facing a player, facing my player, who has closed because Frédéric Gioria sent me into a trap and into a wall.
The Ramadan issue at the center of debates
He adds : “I quickly understood and made the comment to Frédéric Gioria. I asked him: “How come you, who experienced Ramadan last year, are sending me into a wall like that?” Jean-Clair Todibo practiced Ramadan fasting on the day of the match. Galtier then spoke of his cordial relations with Didier Digard, with whom he discussed the management of Ramadan. According to him, there is nothing particular to report and he denies having made racist remarks about him. After a rather trying first morning for the French technician, the court suspended the hearing. This will resume in the afternoon with new testimonies on the subject.
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