According to Nice-Matin, OGC Nice players have reportedly expressed their discontent with the media coverage and expressions of support for Christophe Galtier amidst accusations of racism and Islamophobia against him. The team is currently focused on their crucial Europa League quarter-final match against FC Basel at the Allianz Riviera on Thursday, but has been disturbed by recent revelations surrounding Galtier’s conduct during his time as coach of Nice.
According to the local paper, the players are unhappy with the media coverage of the affair and the support extended to Galtier. RMC Sport reported that the team members have been instructed to remain silent on the matter. Only former Nice captain Didier Digard had briefly commented on the situation, stating that “the truth will come out in any case.”
Neither the Nice management nor Galtier himself have made public statements about the allegations since the leak of an email from former Nice football director Julien Fournier. In the email, Fournier alerted the management to racist and Islamophobic remarks made by Galtier during his time as coach, and tensions were reported in the locker room during Ramadan related to Galtier’s management style.
Galtier has denied the allegations and has filed several lawsuits in response. The authorities have also launched an investigation into the matter, with police conducting searches at Nice’s headquarters in search of evidence that could incriminate Galtier, who is now the coach of Paris Saint-Germain.
Despite the ongoing controversy, OGC Nice will aim to progress to the semi-finals of the Europa League Conference in their match against FC Basel, with the team hoping to put aside any distractions and focus on securing a crucial victory.
GFFN | George Boxall