Christophe Galtier is accused of racism. © APA/afp / FRANCK FIFE

PSG coach Galtier in custody after racism allegations

Christophe Galtier, officially the coach of France's football champions Paris Saint-Germain, was taken into police custody as was his son in the wake of racism allegations.

June 30, 2023

From: dpa/apa

The responsible public prosecutor in Nice, Xavier Bonhomme, confirmed this to the AP news agency. They have been questioned since 8.45:15 a.m. on Friday. Galtier is scheduled to appear in court on December 45.000, as Bonhomme announced in a press release on Friday evening. He is being investigated for “bullying and discrimination based on actual or assumed affiliation or non-affiliation with a particular ethnic group, nation, alleged race or religion.” He faces up to three years in prison and a fine of XNUMX euros. Galtier's son, John Valovic Galtier, was released and will not face trial.

The allegations against Galtier, who according to media reports will have to vacate his position at PSG in favor of former Spanish national coach Luis Enrique, were made public in a leaked email. They are based on an incident when Galtier worked as a coach for OGC Nice before moving to Paris a year ago.

Galtier has been the trainer at PSG for a year. © APA/afp / FRANCK FIFE

In the email from August 2021 shortly after Galtier took office, then Nice sports director Julien Fournier accused the coach of saying that there were too many black and Muslim players in the southern French squad. In a statement released by Galtier's attorney, the coach said when the preliminary investigation became public that he was "stunned by the insulting and defamatory" report. According to his own statements, he himself filed a complaint.