Nice player Atal investigated for ‘defending terrorism’ after reposting antisemitic message

By: The Associated Press Posted: 9:59 AM CDT Monday, Oct. 16, 2023 Last Modified: 11:32 AM CDT Monday, Oct. 16, 2023

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NICE, France (AP) — The Nice public prosecutor’s office opened a preliminary investigation Monday targeting soccer player Youcef Atal on charges “of defending terrorism" after he shared an antisemitic message on social media.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 16/10/2023 (1055 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

NICE, France (AP) — The Nice public prosecutor’s office opened a preliminary investigation Monday targeting soccer player Youcef Atal on charges “of defending terrorism” after he shared an antisemitic message on social media.

The prosecutor’s office said Atal is also being investigated for “public incitement to hatred or violence because of a particular religion.”

Atal, who plays for French league club Nice and the Algeria national team, apologized after reportedly reposting and then deleting a video in which a Palestinian preacher made an antisemitic statement.

FILE - Nice's Youcef Atal in action during the Conference League Group D soccer match between Nice and Partizan at Allianz Riviera stadium in Nice, France, on Oct. 27, 2022. The Nice public prosecutor’s office has opened a preliminary investigation targeting Nice soccer player Youcef Atal on charges “of praising terrorism and public incitement to hatred or violence.” The prosecutor's office announced the opening of a preliminary investigation in a statement Monday Oct. 16, 2023. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole, File)

French Football Federation President Philippe Diallo said Atal had relayed “appeals for violence.” Diallo said in a statement that he “condemns them with the greatest severity” and that the case will be handled by the federation’s ethics committee.

Writing on Instagram, the defender said he understood that his post “shocked several people, which was not my intention.”

Atal also said he condemns all forms of violence, “no matter where in the world.”