- Atal’s second apology
- Legal consequences explained
- Conviction details and aftermath
Algerian footballer Youcef Atal was sentenced to eight months of suspended detention by a French court over a social media post concerning the Gaza conflict.
The Nice criminal court concluded Wednesday that Atal’s October social media video incited religious hatred.
In addition, the Ligue 1 player for Nice was ordered to pay a fine of 45,000 euros ($49,000).
The remarks in question were made by Mahmoud al-Hasanat, a preacher, in a video shared by Atal with his 3.2 million Instagram followers five days after the Israel-Gaza conflict began on October 7.
Al-Hasanat allegedly made an anti-Jewish remark and prayed for God to “guide the hand” of Gaza Palestinians launching a retaliatory assault after discussing the children Israel was murdering in retaliation.
In the previous three months, Israel’s assault on Gaza has killed nearly 22,000 Palestinians, mostly children and women.
Atal was in his native Algeria with the Algerian national team when he uploaded the video. The subsequent day, he opted to retract it after Nice cautioned him that it was prone to generating controversy.
The 27-year-old also apologised and said he “would never support a message of hatred” and against violence “globally.”
Apology and Legal Consequences
Atal issued a second apology during his December court hearing, explaining that he intended to convey a “message of peace” and had not reviewed the 35-second video in its entirety prior to posting it.
However, neither plaintiffs nor prosecutors were persuaded.
“By sharing a video, one lends visibility to its message and becomes a party to its message,” prosecutor Meggi Choutia explained to the court.
The regional daily Nice-Matin and the national newspaper Le Monde will publish part of Atal’s conviction for a price.
Atal was placed under “until further notice” suspension by Nice. Additionally, he received a seven-match sentence that has lapsed since its issuance by the Professional Football League (LFP).
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In November, French authorities detained him in connection with the aforementioned post. After receiving parole for 80,000 euros ($87,500), he was supervised by the court until trial.
Notwithstanding this, he has made three appearances for the Algeria national team. He has been named to their Africa Cup of Nations squad and has national support.
Several footballers, including the Nice player, have been criticised or punished for their Gaza conflict social media remarks.
Following a social media post in which French football sensation Karim Benzema condemned “unjust bombings that spare no women or children” during Israel’s assault on Gaza, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin unsubstantiatedly accused him of ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. A French senator additionally advocated for the revocation of Benzema’s prior football accolades and his French citizenship.
