Racist Galtier, faces three years in prison: Trial Dec. 15. The son was released

Paris

There are too many blacks and Arabs in the squad, coach Christophe Galtier (still officially at PSG) allegedly complained about this when he coached OGC Nice two seasons ago, and recommended the sporting director to take into account the spirit of the city. It seems that the Marseille-born coach received many complaints from the notables of Nice, or that this was his explanation for some dissatisfaction with the team.

In any case Yesterday’s arrest on racial discrimination charges comes at the worst possible time for Galtier and FranceHe was overwhelmed by anger after a 17-year-old French citizen of Algerian descent was killed by a policeman during a road check on Tuesday. If his name had been François he would still be alive, the boys in the suburbs repeated, and the idea that the coach of one of the strongest teams in the French Championship kept Françoise and Rachidze to choose the line-up causes, in these hours, a great embarrassment.

Nice Galtier, his adopted son and agent, John Valović, were arrested by the Nice police. In the evening, the son was released without charge. The technician’s trial date has already been set: December 15th.
He risks imprisonment of up to three years and a fine of €45,000 for moral harassment and discrimination based on belonging or not belonging, real or presumed, to an ethnic group, to a nation, to an alleged race or to a particular religion, according to the release of the Nice prosecutor Xavier Bonhomme.

Christophe Galtier was suspected of making discriminatory and racist comments during the year he was in charge of OGC Nice (2021-2022), according to Statements by the former sporting director of the team, Julien Fournier. Christophe Galtier has always vehemently denied the allegations and has also filed a defamation lawsuit. Several Nice players and managers have already been questioned. The arrest comes after what was revealed last April. In those days, journalist Romain Molina spoke about the reason for the bad relations that existed in Nice between Julien Fournier and coach Christophe Galtier with his son John Valović.

The email that Fournier sent to the management of Ineos (the British company that owns OGC Nice) and in particular to new manager Dave Brailsford, to complain about Galtier and Valovic regarding their management of black and Muslim players in the team, has been released. Which, according to Galtier, were too many. Ji did not like that the coach asked the Muslim players not to respect Ramadan, but in e-mail Fournier openly accuses Galtier and his son of discrimination.

In an excerpt from known RMC Sportsreads: Christophe Galtier arrived at my office and welcomed his son, who told me to check with him what he had just told me (about too many black and Arab players, Mr. Dr). Once Agent Valovitch’s son leaves, I tell Kristoff about the discussion I just had with him and ask him if it’s all true. He said yes, I had to take into account the reality of the city and that we couldn’t have too many blacks and Muslims on the team.

Already last April, PSG fans issued a very harsh statement against Galtier, which he denied all allegations. The coach was placed under protection after receiving more than 5,000 insulting messages and death threats. Having failed in its mission to conquer the Champions League with a vicious elimination in the round of 16 against Bayern Munich, PSG won (narrowly) their 1,000th French championship.

At the end of the season, Galtier was not reconfirmed: it was decided to sack him due to uninspiring results, and also due to controversy over discrimination, which was unacceptable to the Qatari ownership despite Galtier’s defence. But the investigation goes, He will be replaced by the former coach of the Spanish national team, Luis Enrique.