French Rugby Star Sanctioned for Racist Remarks in Viral Video

"My mom asking me if I partied? I swear the first Arab I come across on the road, I’ll give him a helmet hit. I’m telling you, I’ll give him a helmet hit," Jaminet hammered in the video posted after the French national team’s victory in Argentina (13-28). In response to this publication, Cédric Doumbè, seven-time world kickboxing champion and MMA fighter (6 wins in 7 fights), challenged the Toulon player in a video posted on X. "I’m an Arab, where are you?" he said to him.

As a sanction for his racist remarks that caused an outcry on the web, Jamini was excluded from the French national team gathering on Sunday. "The French Rugby Federation (FFR) strongly condemns the remarks made by Melvyn Jaminet," the organization said, adding: "As a result, Melvyn Jaminet has been sidelined with immediate effect and is leaving the France group currently in Argentina." An internal investigation has been opened, the FFR specifies.

For his part, Melyyn Jaminet apologized profusely on social media. "I am deeply sorry and ashamed of my words. I want to apologize to everyone. I understand that this may have hurt and offended many people, and I want to make it clear that these remarks in no way reflect my values or those of the French rugby team. Racism in all its forms is unacceptable and goes against everything I believe in. I understand the FFR’s sanction and am at their disposal to shed light on this matter."