Algerian international footballer Youcef Atal goes on trial in France accused of inciting hatred after posting a video in which a Palestinian preacher purportedly threatens Israel with a “black day”, AFP reports.
Atal, who plays for Ligue 1 side Nice, shared the video on his Instagram account, which has 3.2 million followers, shortly after the attack by Hamas on October 7.
Prosecutors said they also identified another extract in which he called on God to “send the Jews a black day”, and “steady the hands” of Gaza inhabitants if they should “throw stones”.
The 27-year-old defender, who quickly deleted the post and issued an apology, was suspended by his club while prosecutors probed the incident for suspected “justification of terrorism”.
But they dropped that line of investigation after watching the video and questioning the player, instead charging him with “incitement to religious hatred”.
Two associations, the International League against Racism and anti-Semitism (Licra) and the Jewish Observatory of France, have brought civil actions against the player. If found guilty, Atal could be sentenced to up to one year in prison and fined 45,000 euros ($49,000).
