PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) coach Christophe Galtier and his son, John Valovic-Galtier, have been taken into custody for questioning as part of an investigation into racism allegations at one of Galtier's previous clubs, Nice. The Nice prosecutor, Xavier Bonhomme, confirmed the detentions without providing further details. Galtier, who is still under contract with PSG but set to leave the club, has vehemently denied the accusations of making racist and anti-Muslim comments during his time at Nice.
The controversy initially surfaced earlier this year when reports emerged quoting a leaked email from former Nice director of football, Julien Fournier, to the club's owners. In the email, Fournier accused Galtier of expressing dissatisfaction with the number of Black and Muslim players in the squad. Galtier responded to the allegations by expressing deep hurt and announcing his intention to take legal action.
Following the publication of the email, a preliminary investigation into discrimination based on race or religion was launched by Nice police, who subsequently conducted searches at the club's headquarters. PSG's head of communications, Julien Maynard, stated that the club fully supports Galtier despite the serious allegations leveled against him.
The leaked email also revealed that Fournier had informed Ineos director of sports, Dave Brailsford, about the details of a conversation he had with Galtier. Ineos acquired Nice in 2019 and appointed Galtier as coach in 2021, following his successful stint at Lille where he clinched the title. Galtier spent only one season at Nice before joining PSG, while Fournier departed the club in 2022 after a long tenure.
According to Fournier, Galtier allegedly expressed dissatisfaction in August 2021, claiming that there were too many Black and Muslim players in the team, which he believed did not align with the city's ethnic profile. Fournier denied responsibility for the leaked document, stating that he had previously raised concerns about Galtier during an interview with RMC. He even hinted that Galtier's actions had led to irreparable damage, suggesting that the coach would not be able to enter a locker room again if the reasons behind their dispute were made public.
Despite guiding PSG to another French league title, Galtier's tenure at the club has been marred by disappointments, including early eliminations from the Champions League and the French Cup, both at the hands of rivals Marseille. Additionally, PSG's form has dipped significantly in 2023, with 10 losses in 28 games. As a result, talks have reportedly been held between PSG and Luis Enrique as a potential replacement for Galtier in the near future.
PSG coach Christophe Galtier and his son have been detained for questioning as part of an investigation into racism allegations at Galtier's former club, Nice. The accusations stem from leaked emails that accused Galtier of making derogatory comments about the number of Black and Muslim players in the team. Galtier has denied the allegations and taken legal action, while PSG continues to support him.
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