OGC Nice player Youcef Atal, targeted by a preliminary investigation for “apology of terrorism” after a publication linked to the conflict between Israel and Hamas, was placed in police custody on Friday, we learned from the Nice prosecutor, confirming information from the daily Nice-Matin.
Since October 14, reactions have multiplied to denounce the sharing, on the footballer’s Instagram account, of a video of a preacher making, according to these accusers, anti-Semitic remarks calling for violence.
The 27-year-old Algerian international defender quickly deleted his post and apologized, but the prosecution, contacted by the prefect and the mayor of Nice, opened an investigation. His club had suspended him until further notice. The disciplinary committee of the Professional Football League, for its part, imposed a seven-match suspension on him.
Despite the player’s apologies, OGC Nice explained that it had chosen to “immediately take” sanctions, “prior” to those that could be taken by sporting or judicial authorities, “taking into account the nature of the shared publication and of its gravity.”
The Nice prosecutor announced on October 16 the opening of an investigation for “apology of terrorism” and “provocation to hatred or violence based on a specific religion”.
