Algerian international Youssef Atal, who plays for the French club Nice, will be prosecuted for “apologizing for terrorism” after an anti-Semitic post on the social network Instagram about the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian movement Hamas.
The athlete, who has since deleted the post and has already apologized for it, will show a video of a Palestinian religious man praying to God to send a “black day for the Jews” and defending the “hand” of Gaza residents successfully “stoning” Israel .
The reaction of refusal was widespread and came from different quarters: from the French Football Federation to deputies and the mayor of Nice, as well as from the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France (Crif), which lodged a complaint with the authorities.
The investigation into the footballer, which will be carried out by Nice police, also concerns “provoking hatred or violence based on a specific religion.”
“Calls for violence are contrary to the ethics of our sport and the values that football tirelessly defends,” federation President Philippe Diallo said on Sunday.
Youssef Atal responded by suggesting an “awareness” that his publication “shocked several people”, ensuring that this was not his “intention”, for which he apologized for it.
“I would like to make my point clear without any ambiguity: I strongly condemn all forms of violence anywhere in the world and stand with all victims. I will never support a message of hate,” he said, without explaining, however, his reason for sharing the video.
Despite the attempt at redemption, criticism did not subside, and there were even requests for the club to suspend the player and appeals to the Minister of Sports with a request to apply “exemplary and historical sanctions.”
Atal, who currently plays for the Algerian national team, was already involved in a similar scandal in 2020, asking for forgiveness.