Racist remarks and apology for Nazism: a young rugby player denounces the acts suffered in his club

La famille du jeune joueur a déposé une main courante pour “discriminations”. MAXPPP – Mourad ALLILI

Victim of racist remarks and acts glorifying Nazism, a rugby player from the Bassin de Crussol club denounces the facts. His family had filed a complaint on May 15, 2024 for “discrimination”.

A young rugby player from the Bassin de Crussol club denounces racist and Nazi remarks from his teammates and his coach, revealed the Dauphiné Libéré Friday, September 20, 2024. The rugby player, who is part of the under-16 category of the Ardèche club, believes he has suffered this harassment for 2 years. In May, the boy's family filed a complaint for “discriminations”.

Initially believing them to be jokes, the young athlete eventually realized that the defamatory remarks made against him were not funny. Phrases such as “You are too tanned” and “carpet salesman” were uttered to him. His coach also allegedly said to him “I hope you eat pork”. On Instagram, two of the club's players who took part in a poll asking whether they were “For or against Arabs ?" responded negatively.

Acts that glorify Nazism

Some actions go beyond racist remarks and go as far as advocating Nazism. On the U16 team's Snapchat group, a shared photo shows one of the players from behind, a large swastika drawn with scratches on his bare skin, reports the regional daily. Many references to Hitler were also reportedly shared by members of the team.

The French Rugby Federation involved

This affair has been brought to the attention of the French Rugby Federation (FFR) and its director Florian Grill. The victim's family, following reports without any repercussions, therefore filed a complaint while requesting the C3PR, the prevention and protection unit for rugby populations.

For the moment, no sanctions have been taken. However, the FFR has made various recommendations to the Bassin de Crussol club, including the creation of internal regulations within the club and the holding of an awareness meeting. This will take place on September 28 and will be hosted by Laetitia Pachoud, elected member of the FFR steering committee and in charge of the C3PR.

While the world of rugby is dealing with sensitive issues with the Jegou-Auradou and Melvyn Jaminet affair, the federation declared this summer that it wanted to be uncompromising.