“What a feeling of shame, humiliation, lack of respect”, FC Petit Bard protests against the Occitanie League

Encore une mauvaise publicité pour le football amateur. MAXPPP - NICOLAS CREACH

The regional authority has closed the case of the U14 match between Beaucaire and Petit Bard, which accuses spectators from Gard of having uttered racist insults.

The match on September 28 between the U14s of Stade Beaucarois and those of FC Petit Bard has not finished making headlines. That day, at half-time in the match, the coaches of the Hérault club decided not to resume the match.

Here are excerpts from a report that its leaders sent to the Occitanie League: “Our young players were victims of racist insults, our leaders were also victims of intimidation, insults and threats […] They decided to call the police to guarantee their safety. […] The parents of two players filed a complaint, as did the club. The Beaucaire national police have identified a person who has partially admitted the facts."

The case brought to the federation ?

On October 10, the Montpellier club learned that the Occitanie League had closed the case without further action, according to this message sent by the regional body: “[…hellip;] The visiting club denounces “racial insults, intimidation and threats against players, managers and parents”. It also specifies that it called on the police to guarantee the safety of its members and filed a complaint. As a result, the Regional Commission for Regulations and Transfers decided to open disciplinary proceedings against the club and to request a detailed report on the alleged facts. On reviewing the various reports, the Commission considers that it cannot, given the state of the case, take steps to impose sanctions against Stade Beaucairois in the absence of any evidence demonstrating that local spectators committed the alleged acts."

The leaders of FC Petit Bard are outraged: "We were not even asked for a supplementary report in order to provide evidence as is usually done in other cases. Only the opposing club Beaucaire was heard. What a feeling of shame, humiliation, and lack of respect!" Is FC Petit-Bard Montpellier a sub-club?? Is our word worth less than others?? We will turn to the French Football Federation (FFF) so that light can be shed on the handling of this affair that was dealt with too quickly.”

When contacted, the legal department of the Occitanie Football League declined to comment.