PSG boss Christopher Galtier DENIES in ‘strongest possible terms’ claims in French press that he ‘moaned about having too many black and Muslim players while in charge of Nice and allegedly asked stars NOT to observe Ramadan’
- PSG are said to have begun an investigation into Galtier’s alleged behaviour
- A leaked email claims Galtier moaned about ‘black and Muslim players’ at Nice
- He denies the claims and said he will contest them and issue legal proceedings
PSG boss Christophe Galtier has ‘denied in the strongest terms’ alleged racism claims focused on his time at previous employer Nice.
Galtier is alleged to have made comments about having ‘too many black and Muslim players’ in his former team by Nice’s former director of football Julien Fournier – who also cast doubt on the claims – in a leaked email published by French football reporter Romain Molina.
The Frenchman successfully oversaw PSG’s 2-0 away win over Nice on Saturday in Ligue 1 and another report by local French media outlet Nice-Matin claims that during a five game winning streak, the 56-year-old asked Muslim players not to observe Ramadan.
They additionally reported that out of the players asked by Galtier, some accepted, while Hicham Boudaoui and Jean-Clair Todibo refused the request.
However, in a press release sent to AFP, Galtier’s lawyer Olivier Martin said that along with a denial, the PSG boss ‘contests with the greatest firmness’ the claims, while he ‘learned with amazement of the insulting and defamatory remarks’ alleged in Fournier’s email. He also announced that ‘legal proceedings’ were to come.
PSG head coach Christophe Galtier (pictured) has denied accusations he made alleged derogatory comments about black and Muslim players during his time at Nice
PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi (pictured) is reportedly overseeing an investigation into Galtier’s behaviour
The holy Islamic holiday Ramadan restricts Muslims from consuming food or drink during daylight hours and is currently being observed by the Islamic community around the world.
An investigation has now been launched by PSG into the actions of their manager, according to RMC, who also claim that the club’s chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi first found out about the claims while in Qatar.
It is then suggested that the PSG chief wants to oversee the investigation himself and will remove Galtier from his position at the club if alleged allegations are proven correct.
However, Nice’s previous director Fournier who has been accused of leaking the email containing the original information has denied that he did so, and suggested the email was sent after he left the club.
While at Nice, Galtier (middle) is alleged to have told Muslim players not to observe Ramadan
Nice’s former sporting director Julien Fournier (pictured) denies leaking an email containing information about Galtier
Fournier is currently away in Brazil but defiantly told Nice Matin that he is not the source of the apparent email that has been leaked to French media.
‘I am in Brazil right now and far away from this controversy, to which I am associated at my expense. I am in no way at the source of the circulation of this internal information, which went back a year from the time I left the club.
‘I would never kick anyone while they are down, despite my disagreements with Christophe Galtier, and most of all I have too much respect for OGC Nice – a club whose colours I proudly defended for ten years – as well as the people who are there, who right now are preparing for one of the biggest games in their history in Europe.
‘The timing of these revelations outrages me as much as their content does,’ he added.
