PSG coach Galtier denies allegations of racism at former club

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PARIS (AP) Paris Saint-Germain coach Christophe Galtier has vehemently denied accusations that he made racist and anti-Muslim remarks while in charge of French League club Nice, adding on Wednesday that he would take legal action.

RMC Sport and other French media have published information citing a leaked email from former Nice football director Julien Fournier to the club’s owners, in which he accused Galtier of saying there was too many black and muslim players in the squad.

In a statement released by his lawyer to French media, Galtier said he was stunned to learn of the insulting and defamatory report and said he would take unspecified legal action.

Meanwhile, a large group of PSG supporters have called for Galtier to leave if he can be proven to have made the alleged remarks.

The Collectif Ultras Paris is following the Galtier affair closely. If the facts with which he is charged are proven, it is not acceptable for this person to remain in the club’s organization chart,” the group of supporters said in a statement. “We recall that we have always taken a stand against any form of discrimination. .

RMC Sport says Fournier, who was at odds with Galtier during his tenure at Nice, wrote to Ineos sporting director Dave Brailsford to share details of a conversation he had with the coach.

Ineos acquired the French league club in 2019 and appointed Galtier as their manager in 2021. He spent a season at Nice before joining PSG. Fournier also left the club in 2022 after more than a decade at the club.

In the leaked email to Brailsford, Fournier reportedly said Galtier had complained in August 2021 that there were too many black and Muslim players in the squad, and that this did not reflect the city’s ethnological profile. , which is located on the French Riviera.

Nice did not respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press.

Speaking from Brazil, Fournier told local newspaper Nice-Matin that he was not responsible for the document leaking.

“The timing of these revelations revolts me, just as much as their content, he was quoted by the newspaper.

Galtier is under pressure at PSG following his team’s poor form since the start of the year. PSG suffered a second successive Champions League knockout round elimination in March and saw their lead at the top of the French league table reduced to six points after losing five games in 2023.

Fournier previously spoke of serious issues with Galtier in an interview with RMC, saying the PSG coach would never be able to enter a dressing room again, neither in France nor in Europe if he explained the reasons for their argument.

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