The famous football player was detained for inciting hatred in the conflict between Israel and Hamas

Algerian footballer Youssef Atal from Nice was detained as part of an investigation for “apologizing for terrorism” after a publication related to the conflict between Israel and Hamas, it was announced this Friday.

Yousef Atal, who is expected to be arraigned in the coming hours, is under investigation for inciting hatred on religious grounds and for sharing a video on his social networks in which a Palestinian preacher called for an attack on Israel .

The 27-year-old player posted a video on his Instagram account in October of a Palestinian preacher praying for a “black day for the Jews” and asking to accompany the “hand” of Gaza residents who are “throwing stones.” against Israel.

The publication provoked a reaction from the president of the French Football Federation (FFF), Philippe Diallo, who considered it “contrary to the ethics” of the sport and prompted both the mayor of Nice Christian Estrosi and French Jewish institutions to demand the opening of an investigation.

Youssef Atal quickly deleted the post and apologized, but on October 16, French judicial authorities opened an investigation on charges of “condoning terrorism” and “provoking hatred or violence due to a particular religion.”

Nice, who are second in the French Football League behind Paris Saint-Germain, suspended the player until further notice and the Professional Football League (LFP) disciplinary committee handed him a seven-game ban.

Despite Atala’s apology, Nice chose to “immediately accept” sanctions, “prior to” those that could be adopted by the sporting or judicial authorities, “taking into account the nature of the publication published and its seriousness.”

The footballer, who had already found himself in an identical situation in 2020, did not hide his support for the Palestinian people and condemned “all forms of violence”, and also showed solidarity with the victims.

“I will never support a message of hate,” said the Algerian international defender, who was involved in his team’s 2-0 win over Mozambique this weekend in Africa’s 2026 World Cup qualifying game.

The war between Israel and Hamas, now in its 49th day, was sparked by an attack by the Palestinian Islamic movement that killed 1,200 people, most of them civilians, on Israeli soil from the Gaza Strip on October 7.

Since October 7, Israeli bombings in the Gaza Strip have killed 14,854 people, including 6,150 children and 4,000 women, according to the latest report released Thursday by the Hamas government.