Reactions rocketed from all sides on Wednesday, since the shock caused by the disclosure of an email from Julien Fournier denouncing discriminatory remarks by former OGC Nice coach Christophe Galtier. The association SOS Racisme also wanted to publish a press release. “Light must quickly be shed on this affair and its possible extensions, explains SOS Racisme. Indeed, the fact that a person with a managerial function within a sports club may make racist remarks is not without concrete consequences, particularly in terms of discriminatory choices. [sélections, recrutements…]. For this, we ask Julien Fournier to clarify his remarks. Yes or no, does he affirm that Christophe Galtier made such remarks? »
In addition to the former general manager of Nice football, the association challenges Ineos, owner of OGC Nice, as well as the Riviera club. “We are asking Ineos and OGC Nice to come out of their reserve. If an alert reporting racist remarks on the part of Christophe Galtier has reached the management of Ineos, what follow-up have the company and the club given to it? Has an investigation taken place? It is indeed essential that the warnings issued in matters of racism do not end up under the carpet. In this regard, the minimalist reaction of OGC Nice published today and which consists, in fact, of walling in silence, is below what we are entitled to expect from a first division club. »
“We can’t have so many blacks in the team”
In addition to this tackle against the Nice club, SOS Racisme also evokes the responsibility of Paris Saint-Germain, current employer of Christophe Galtier: “We ask the PSG to undertake to carry out an internal investigation if the plausibility of the holding of the remarks lent to the current PSG coach. Indeed, beyond any other measure that the club could be led to take in its relationship with Christophe Galtier, it would then be essential to know whether discriminatory remarks may have been made by the latter in the context of his current activity. .
According to the letter written by Julien Fournier to the management of Ineos last year, Christophe Galtier would have asked him to “take into account the reality of the city of Nice and that we could not have so many blacks and Muslims in the team. The former football director of OGC Nice continued in his email unveiled by RMC Sport on Tuesday, about this famous exchange with Christophe Galtier: “He said to me: “I went to the restaurant and everyone m came across it saying we have a black team Julien, you have to realize what city we are in, we are in the city of Jacques Médecin [ancien maire de Nice]and our team does not correspond to what people want, as it does not correspond to me”. There was no sporting argument but only religious or skin color arguments”.