Ligue 1 footballer Youcef Atal investigated for ‘defending terrorism’
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Ligue 1 footballer Youcef Atal is being investigated on charges of “defending terrorism” after he allegedly shared an antisemitic message on social media in relation to the conflict in Israel and Gaza. The Nice defender, who has won 31 caps for Algeria and featured at last year’s Africa Cup of Nations, has apologised after posting and then deleting a video on Instagram.
The video showed Palestinian preacher Sheikh Mahmoud al-Hasanat asking God to send “a black day on the Jews” and “accompany the hand” of the people of Gaza “if they throw the stone”. And the Nice public prosecutor’s office has said it opened a preliminary investigation on Monday with Atal also accused of “public incitement to hatred or violence because of a particular religion”.
The post caused outrage in Nice, with the mayor of the city Christian Estrosi demanding an apology from the 27-year-old player who has played six of the club’s eight Ligue 1 games this season. Estrosi insisted Atal should “denounce the terrorists of Hamas” or “he would no longer have a place in our club”.
The president of the French Football Federation Philippe Diallo then said: “The calls for violence relayed by OGC Nice player Youcef Atal are contrary to the ethics of our sport and the values that football relentlessly defends. The FFF condemns them in the strongest possible terms. Hate speech cannot be tolerated.”
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Atal apologised for his post as he returned to Instagram to write: “I want to make my point clear in no uncertain terms. I strongly condemn all forms of violence, anywhere in the world, and I support all victims. I will never support a message of hate. Peace is an ideal in which I firmly believe.”
Atal’s post isn’t his first to cause controversy during his time as a Nice player. Back in October 2020, the ace liked another contentious message on social media and later insisted he had “not meant to hurt anyone” and that he was “Muslim and against terrorism”.
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The latest conflict began on Saturday, October 7 when militants from Gaza fired rockets into Israel, before breaking down a border fence. According to CNN, Hamas gunmen killed more than 1,400 people, including civilians and soldiers, after storming Israeli territory and taking 199 hostages.
In response, Israel declared war and launched Operation Swords of Iron, which has seen the country strike what it calls Hamas and Islamic Jihad targets in Gaza. Israel dropped 6,000 bombs on Gaza between October 7 and October 12, with Israel’s Defense Forces telling civilians in Gaza to leave their residential areas. Israel has also blocked delivery of electricity, food, fuel and water until the hostages are freed.
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