French Football Confronts Racism as Former Paris Saint-Germain Coach Christophe Galtier's Trial Unveils Truth
Former Paris Saint-Germain coach Christophe Galtier's trial sparks a crucial reckoning on racism in French soccer, as tensions between Galtier and ex-sporting director Julien Fournier come to light With Galtier reserving his statements for court, the leaked email that triggered a police investigation becomes an inflection point for France
Three months after his departure from French soccer club OGC Nice, Julien Fournier, the former sporting director until July 2022, discussed the tensions with his former colleague Christophe Galtier. Galtier, 57 years old, had served as the coach for OGC Nice during the 2021-22 season before being appointed as the coach for Paris Saint-Germain in July 2022.
Fournier told radio station RMC that if he were to explain the true reasons behind the quarrel, Christophe would never step foot in a locker room in France or Europe again. He emphasized that the dispute was not related to soccer, but rather to something much more serious. Despite this, Fournier chose not to provide further details about the exact nature of the disagreement at that time.
After fifteen months and numerous allegations, Galtier is being tried on Friday at the Nice courthouse for charges of moral harassment and discrimination, as stated by the Nice prosecutor.
If convicted, Galtier may be sentenced to three years in prison and a fine of â¬45,000 ($49,000), according to the prosecutor's office.
Nice's former sporting director Julien Fournier left the Ligue 1 club in July 2022.
Valery Hache/AFP/Getty Images
Galtier, along with his legal team, has consistently refuted any accusations against him and has garnered support from former players, particularly from Burak Yilmaz, his former Turkish international co-worker at Lille, who has voiced his support for the French coach.
Galtier reserving his statements for court
Following Fournier's radio interview, the police and public prosecutor in Nice stated in a June announcement that several players, directors, and staff members at OGC Nice who signed with the club, were interviewed.
A recent investigation by French sports newspaper L'Équipe uncovered that assistant coach and former OGC Nice captain Frédéric Gioria, along with several current players from the club, were interviewed by the police. According to L'Équipe, based on police depositions obtained by the paper, the players and Gioria accused Galtier of exhibiting discriminatory and coercive behavior towards colleagues and players of color and/or Muslim faith.
CNN is unable to independently confirm the testimonies and allegations mentioned in L'Équipe's investigation. Gioria claimed that Galtier made the statement "another Muslim, I don't want him, we've had enough," after the recruitment of Billal Brahimi, a French-Algerian left winger. L'Équipe reports that Galtier denies these allegations.
The coach's lawyer told CNN that he is reserving his statements for the court and maintained the innocence of the 57-year-old regarding the allegations made in the investigation. The Nice prosecutor did not respond immediately to CNN's request for comment on L'Équipe's report. According to L'Équipe, Fournier and Gioria claim that Galtier opposed signing players based solely on their race or religion.
According to LÃquipe, Fournier told police that Galtier said, "I dont want any more blacks or Arabs."
Dave Brailsford was named Director of Sport at INEOS on December 21. INEOS has investments in cycling, sailing, football (including OGC Nice), rugby, and Formula 1.
Gioria accused Galtier of saying "another Muslim, I don't want him, we've had enough" after the recruitment of Billal Brahimi, a French Algerian left winger. L'Équipe reports that Galtier denies these claims.
Additionally, L'Équipe states that Teddy Boulhendi, one of OGC Nice's goalkeepers, felt compelled to eat on match days, breaking his fast during Ramadan, in order to avoid hindering his career. Three other Muslim players also expressed feeling pressured by Galtier to break their fast during Ramadan, according to L'Équipe.
CNN asked OGC Nice for comment about the LÃquipe allegations but hadnt received a reply at the time of publication. Â
A leaked email that kickstarted a police investigation
Approximately half a year after Fournier's mysterious radio statement caused initial concern, a leaked email was suddenly circulated online, bringing Galtier back into the spotlight. On April 11, 2023, independent sports journalist Romain Molina disclosed the contents of a lengthy email in a YouTube video, claiming it had been sent by Fournier to Dave Brailsford, the director of sport at INEOS, the company that owns OGC Nice.
The PSG squad applauds following the Champions League Group F soccer game between Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain at Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund, Germany, on Wednesday, December 13, 2023. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
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Molina's email detailed a series of incidents that had a significant impact on Fournier during the soccer season, including an alleged statement by Galtier in August 2021 about the diversity of players on OGC Nice.
Molina informed CNN that he received the email "by mistake" and, after speaking to the parties involved, he chose to make it public, stating that "everyone else was too scared to speak." CNN has been unable to independently confirm the manner in which the email was shared and has not had access to the email. Galtier denied the accusations in the email.
Following the leak of the email and Fournier's 2022 interview, Nices public prosecutors office initiated an investigation into discrimination shortly after Molina's video was posted, as stated by the prosecutors in June. The headquarters of OGC Nice were subsequently searched, according to the statement. Molina expressed surprise that there was little response or action taken in the French soccer world to address the email's contents even after it was made public.
"I thought that some people would talk ⦠I was so disappointed ⦠It destroyed maybe the last hope I had for this game," Molina told CNN.
Besiktas head coach Burak Yilmaz observes the Super Lig match between Galatasaray and Besiktas at RAMS Stadyumu on October 21, 2023 in Istanbul, Turkey. Earlier this year, Yilmaz publicly supported Galtier, the French coach and former Turkish international, with whom he had previously worked at Lille.
- Ahmad Mora/Getty Images
Molina's video prompted a response from OGC Nice the following day, with the club releasing a short statement addressing the situation. Neither Nice nor INEOS have provided any additional comments to CNN's requests for further information. Likewise, Galtier's current club Al-Duhail, owned by Qatar, did not respond to CNN's request for comment despite his coaching role there since October.
Galtier's current team at the time of the email leak, PSG, did not provide a comment to CNN's request. However, in April, the club publicly defended Galtier in a press conference, stating that they support him after the numerous threats he had received.
Fournier did not respond immediately to CNN's request for comment. However, he mentioned in an interview earlier this month on RMC's After Foot that he was not surprised by the allegations made against Galtier in L'Equipe's article. He said that they were "in line with what I discovered and experienced." When asked if he would attend Galtier's trial, Fournier said it was the victims who would "testify and take the stand," confirming his involvement in the investigation.
In response to CNN's request for comment, Galtier's legal team provided the following statement: "He [Christophe Galtier] is saving his remarks for the courtroom and eagerly anticipates the public and adversarial debate where he will prove that he has never discriminated against or harassed anyone. His unblemished character is evident throughout his entire career and reputation."
In this image, players are seen competing in a French L1 "Huis clos" football match between O.G.C Nice and F.C des Girondins de Bordeaux at "Allianz Riviera" stadium in Nice, southeastern France, on August 28, 2021. The photo depicts a general view of the game, with no supporters present.
An inflection point for France
In recent years, French soccer has witnessed its fair share of high-profile scandals featuring accusations of racism, corruption, and sexual abuse.
Just this year, Noël Le Graët stepped down as the head of the French Football Federation following a Ministry of Sports audit in the midst of allegations of sexual and moral harassment. Le Graët has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
Ankara, Turkey - December 11: Referee Halil Umut Meler is knocked to the ground by MKE Ankaragucu President Faruk Koca after the Turkish Super Lig week 15 soccer match between MKE Ankaragucu and Rizespor at Eryaman Stadium in Ankara, Turkey on December 11, 2023. The match ended in a 1-1 draw. (Photo by Emin Sansar/Anadolu via Getty Images)
The Turkish soccer club president has resigned following an incident where he punched a referee. Galtier's situation is particularly noteworthy due to the allegations of racism and discrimination against someone of his stature in the soccer world, and the fact that the case has gone to court in France.
The timing of these events is significant as France is preparing to host the 2024 Olympic Games next summer, placing the country under heightened scrutiny. "This marks a turning point," said Dr. Lindsay Krasnoff, a lecturer at NYU Tisch Institute for Global Sport, speaking to CNN. "Had this issue arisen five years ago, the likely result would have been vastly different from what we might see this week." According to Dr. Krasnoff, the increased attention on France due to the upcoming Olympics, coupled with the global sports world's ongoing focus on racism and discrimination, adds pressure to Galtier's case and could impact its outcome.
According to Jean-Jacques Bertrand, a prominent sports lawyer in France, it is unlikely that Galtier will face the harshest penalty from the Nice court. Bertrand stated, "If Galtier is found guilty, he will probably receive a suspended sentence of several months imprisonment, and possibly a fine."
Bertrand explained that in a case like this, the court will not make an immediate ruling. Instead, it will carefully consider the matter and announce the date when it will issue its decision in the coming weeks.
