Nice Player Youcef Atal Suspended 7 Matches for Controversial Palestine Post

Algerian international, the Nice player has just been suspended for 7 matches by the disciplinary commission of the French Professional Football League, following the seizure by the National Ethics Council of the French Football Federation (FFF) of the disciplinary commission of the League.

Youcef Atal has incurred the wrath of political actors and even beyond. He is accused of having relayed the words of a Palestinian preacher, Sheikh Mahmoud al-Hasanat, asking God to send "a dark day on the Jews" and "to accompany the hand" of the inhabitants of Gaza "if they throw the stone". The shared post sparked strong reactions and the mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, asked the player to apologize, as reported by Le Parisien. "I expect Youcef Atal, if he has been instrumentalized, to apologize and denounce the Hamas terrorists. If that were not the case, he would no longer have his place in our club."

Faced with the controversy, the 27-year-old player apologized on Sunday to those who were shocked by his publication. "I am aware that my publication has shocked several people, which was not my intention, and I apologize for it. I want to clarify my point of view without any ambiguity: I firmly condemn all forms of violence, everywhere in the world, and I support all victims. I will never support a message of hatred. Peace is an ideal in which I firmly believe." Despite his apologies, Atal could be the target of a complaint. The Crif (Representative Council of Jewish Institutions of France) of the South-East region expects to receive a sworn translation of the content of the shared post before taking action in this direction.