PSG coach arrested by police for racist and Islamophobic remarks

– Paris St-Germain (PSG) coach Christophe Galtier was detained by police on charges of discrimination while he was in charge of Nice.

According to a French television channel, RMC SportGaltier and his adopted son, John Valovic-Galtier, who also works as his adviser, were taken into police custody at 8.45am on Friday (30/6/2023) as part of an investigation into alleged discrimination in Nice.

The two are said to have been subpoenaed by investigators looking into allegations of racism at the Ligue 1 club.

French newspapers L’Equipe claimed that the pair faced accusations of racism from former Nice sporting director Julien Fournier.

Their report stated that Galtier was alleged to have made discriminatory, racist and Islamophobic comments during his year at the club by Fournier. Fournier is also said to have spoken in court last month.

Galtier is known to have always vehemently denied the allegations and has even filed a complaint.

As is well known, the 56-year-old, who is understood to be leaving PSG this summer, previously coached Nice for 12 months before moving to the Parc des Princes last year.

In France, a suspect can only be held by investigators for 24 hours, before they are released or placed under detention and then taken to court to decide on legal action.

A number of Nice players and coaches, as well as president Jean-Pierre Rivere and reserve coach Didier Digard, are believed to have been interviewed by investigators.

In April, a leaked email published by French football reporter Romain Molina suggested that Galtier had allegedly made comments about too many black and Muslim players in his former team Fournier.

Another report from local French media, Nice-Matin, claims that during five consecutive wins, the coach asked Nice’s Muslim players not to observe fasting.