Sports

Algerian footballer Youcef Atal goes on trial in France over ‘hateful’ Gaza post

Published

11 months ago

December 18, 2023

Algerian international footballer, Youcef Atal, was on Monday put on trial by French authorities on charges of inciting hatred after he reposted a video which showed a Palestinian preacher threatening Israel with a “black day”.

Atal, a defender with Ligue 1 side Nice, had shared the video on his Instagram account which has 3.2 million followers, shortly after the attack by Hamas militants on Israel on October 7 in which 1,139 people were killed.

Following the video, his club quickly suspended him until further notice, while the professional football league banned him for seven matches.

In the footage of the video, Palestinian preacher, Mahmoud Al Hasanat, talked about the plight of children in Gaza before issuing the threat.

French prosecutors said they also identified another extract in the video where Al Hasanat 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 quickly deleted the post and issued an apology after a backlash. Prosecutors are probing the incident for alleged “justification of terrorism”.

That angle of investigation was later dropped after watching the video and questioning the player, while a fresh charge of “incitement to religious hatred” was preferred against him.

Apart from the French prosecutors, two other associations, the International League against Racism and anti-Semitism (Licra) and the Jewish Observatory of France, have also brought civil actions against Atal, and if he is found guilty, he could be sentenced to up to one year in prison and fined 45,000 euros ($49,000).

He has also been under judicial supervision with a ban on travelling abroad except to play professional football.

Related Topics:Algeria Featured hate speech Youcef Ata

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Sports

TP Mazembe pip AS FAR to win African Women’s Champions League

Published

21 minutes ago

November 24, 2024

Isaac Dachen

TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) became the third team to win the 2024 African Women’s Champions League after narrowly defeating AS FAR of Morocco 1-0 in the final played on Sunday at the El Jadida’s Stade Ben Ahmed El Abdi Stadium.

TP Mazembe claimed the title for the first time courtesy of a 10th minute penalty which was converted by Marlene Kasaj after AS FAR captain Aziza Rabbah handled the ball in the box.

The Congolese side should have doubled their lead six minutes later when an unmarked Merveille Kanjinga fired wide from seven yards out before the more fancied home team gradually grew into the match and looked to cancel the deficit and add to their continental triumph in 2022.

But AS FAR put in a subdued display and failed to test Mazembe’s goalkeeper Fideline Ngoy, with tournament top scorer Doha El Madani who had netted six goals in their run to the final, wasting their best chance as she sliced a first-half free-kick wide.

With the triumph, TP Mazembe carted home the giant trophy and a cheque for $600,000 (£479,000) after the prize money was increased for the fourth edition of the tournament, while the AS FAR went home with $400,000 (£319,000).

Sports

Wafcon 2024 draw throws up interesting pairings

Published

1 day ago

November 23, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The draw for the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) holding in Morocco from July 5 to 26 next year which was held on Friday, threw up some interesting match-ups to look forward to as hosts Morocco found themselves in what has been described as the group of death.

The Atlas Lionesses will have to contend with Zambia, DR Congo and Senegal in Group A, while Group B has record 11-time continental champions, the Super Falcons of Nigeria slugging it out with Tunisia, Algeria and Botswana, just as current defending champions, Banyana Banyana of South Africa will do battle with Ghana, Mali and Tanzania in Group C.

The top two sides in each group will progress to the quarter-finals, alongside the two best third-placed finishers.

Though qualification for the 2024 Wafcon was completed in December last year, the Confederation of African Football (CAF), was forced to push the finals into 2025 because of international football’s congested calendar, which included the participation of Nigeria and Zambia at the Olympics.

Morocco also staged the 2022 edition of Wafcon, ending as runners-up, and former international Fatiha Laassiri believes home support will provide “a real advantage” next year.

Wafcon 2024 group draw with world ranking in brackets:

Group A: Morocco (hosts, 59), Zambia (62), Senegal (83), DR Congo (102).

Group B: Nigeria (36), Tunisia (78), Algeria (84), Botswana (153).

Group C: South Africa (holders, 50), Ghana (66), Mali (81), Tanzania (145).