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PSG Coach, Galtier In Police Custody Over Alleged Discrimination

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Paris Saint-Germain coach Christophe Galtier will face trial in December as a result of an investigation into alleged discrimination, the Nice prosecutor said on Friday.

The 56-year-old Galtier and his son John Valovic-Galtier — a player’s agent — were taken in for questioning earlier in the day following an investigation launched in April, after claims the coach made racist and Islamophobic remarks about players when he coached Nice in the 2021/22 season.

At a hearing on Friday, Galtier “denied the offences of which he could be accused”, said the public prosecutor Xavier Bonhomme in a press release.

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Galtier will stand trial on December 15 before the Nice Criminal Court “p, the prosecutor said.

READ ALSO: 700 Arrested, 200 Police Officers Injured In French Protests

The offences are punishable by three years’ imprisonment and a 45,000-euro (49,000-dollar) fine.

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Valovic-Galtier “was released following his hearing”, said the public prosecutor.

Galtier guided PSG to their 11th league title last season, but was told at the beginning of June by the club’s Qatari owners he would be fired after a largely underwhelming season in which PSG suffered 10 defeats in 2023, exiting the Champions League, the team’s main objective, in the last 16.

The allegations stemming from his time coaching Nice, surfaced in the French media in April.

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The reports alleged that ex-Nice sporting director Julien Fournier had written an email at the end of the 2021/22 season in which he claimed Galtier had made discriminatory remarks about the Nice squad.

“He (Galtier) told me that I should take account of the reality of the city and that in effect we should not have as many blacks and Muslims in the team,” claimed Fournier, whose relationship with Galtier was a fraught one.

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He told me he wanted to profoundly change the team’s make-up and limit the maximum number of Muslims.”

Galtier said he was “deeply shocked by the claims” and denied the allegations. He launched a defamation suit, saying he had received death threats, against two journalists and Fournier.

Judicial enquiry –

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Fournier indicated to AFP on May 22 he had been questioned as part of the judicial enquiry without giving any further details.

Several players and directors, including the club president Jean-Pierre Rivere and former coach Didier Digard were also questioned by investigators.

The message was reportedly sent by Fournier — whose relationship with Galtier was tense — to Dave Brailsford, the former head of British Cycling and Team Sky now the Director of Sport at Ineos, the owners of Nice.

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Galtier and Fournier both left Nice last year after working together at the club for one season, with the former being appointed by PSG.

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Galtier — a former no nonsense defender who played most of his career at Marseille where he was born — had enjoyed a highly successful career as a coach.

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He began with Saint-Etienne before taking on Lille and guiding them to the 2021 Ligue 1 crown but moved on to Nice soon afterwards.

He took them to the French Cup final in 2022 — where they lost to Nantes — but he could not resist the challenge of attempting to secure the Champions League trophy when PSG came calling last year.

However, despite having the troika of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Kylian Mbappe in the team, PSG again fell short and Galtier’s fate was sealed.

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EPL: Trossard Strike As Arsenal Beat Fulham 1-0

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Arsenal edged past Fulham with a narrow 1-0 victory at Craven Cottage, climbing three points clear at the top of the Premier League table. The result marked another composed and professional display from Mikel Arteta’s side, who continue to show their title credentials.

The decisive moment came in the second half when Leandro Trossard calmly finished after a clever set-piece routine.

Bukayo Saka delivered a dangerous corner that was flicked on by Gabriel, setting up Trossard to slot home the winner.

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READ ALSO:EPL: Nottingham Forest Sacks Postecoglou After 3-0 Defeat To Chelsea

Arteta’s side dominated possession throughout, limiting Fulham to very few chances in front of goal.

The hosts struggled to create any real threat, with Arsenal’s defence staying compact and composed.

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With the victory, Arsenal overtake Manchester City to sit three points clear at the summit after another disciplined away performance.

More to follow…

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EPL: Nottingham Forest Sacks Postecoglou After 3-0 Defeat To Chelsea

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Nottingham Forest have sacked Ange Postecoglou barely minutes after their 3-0 defeat to Chelsea on Saturday.

A statement from the Premier league club, released 20 minutes after full-time at the City Ground, reads: “Nottingham Forest Football Club can confirm that after a series of disappointing results and performances, Ange Postecoglou has been relieved of his duties as head coach with immediate effect.

“The club will make no further comment at this time.”

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Postecoglou was in charge for eight games and six of those ended in defeat.

It included an early Carabao Cup exit at Championship club Swansea City, when Forest led 2-1 in the 92nd minute before conceding two in four minutes to lose 3-2.

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The other two games – away at Burnley (Premier League) and Real Betis (Europa League) ended in draws.

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Edo Sports Commission Boss Charges New Armwrestling Board To Prioritize Accessibility, Sponsorship

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Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Hon. Amadin Desmond Enabulele, has charged members of the newly inaugurated Edo State Armwrestling Association board to embrace openness, accessibility, and proactive engagement with athletes and stakeholders.

Enabulele gave the charge during the board’s inauguration held at the Media Centre of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City.

The event had in attendance Executive Directors, the Permanent Secretary, and other top officials of the Commission.

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In a statement signed by his Media Officer, Mr. Edoko Wilson Edoko, the sports commission boss described the inauguration as “a new dawn in our collective journey to strengthen and elevate the standard of sports development in Edo State.”

READ ALSO:Enabulele Lauds Okpehbolo For Creating Enabling Environment For Football To Thrive

He urged the new executives to pursue sponsorships and partnerships that would drive growth and sustain the association’s programmes.

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“Financial support is the lifeblood of sports,” Enabulele said.

Through partnerships and sponsorships, we can provide the resources needed to nurture our athletes and expand our programmes.”

The Chairman also called for approachable leadership, encouraging the board to remain open to athletes, coaches, and stakeholders.

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Your guidance and presence will foster unity, strengthen teamwork, and create a culture of accountability and progress,” he added.

READ ALSO:Enabulele Hails Edo-born Athletes’ International Feats

Enabulele further announced plans to introduce quarterly appraisal sessions between the Commission and sports associations to ensure proper monitoring and measurable progress.

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These sessions will allow us to review achievements, address challenges, and design strategies for continued success,” he explained.

He urged the new board members to carry out their duties with dedication and vision, stressing that their collective efforts would transform Edo sports and inspire the next generation of champions.

In his response, the new Chairman of the Edo Armwrestling Association, Mr. Eromosele Albert, pledged to organize both national and international armwrestling competitions to boost the sport’s visibility and give Edo athletes more exposure.

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Albert noted that armwrestling is gaining rapid popularity in the United States and Canada and promised to leverage global trends to enhance the sport’s profile and financial sustainability in Edo State.

He also expressed confidence that Team Edo would perform strongly at the next National Sports Festival, where the sport offers 34 gold medals.

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The inauguration ceremony ended with exhibition matches featuring male and female athletes competing in both left and right-hand categories.

Those inaugurated into the board include: Mr. Eromosele Albert (Chairman), Divine Rosemary (Acting Secretary/Coach), Hon. Frank Ilaboya, Mr. Johnson Femi, Mr. Johnny Summers, Mr. Osagie Oghuma Peter, Dr. Benson Ogala, and Mr. Iraoya Olarenwaju.

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