Former PSG and Nice Coach, Christophe Galtier, Faces trial for alleged harassment and discrimination
Christophe Galtier, former coach of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and OGC Nice, is currently on trial in Nice, accused of harassment and discrimination, particularly against Muslim players during his tenure at OGC Nice in the 2021/2022 season. The trial began at 09:15 in the Nice correctional court.
Galtier, now leading Al-Duhail in Qatar, is facing charges of moral harassment and discrimination, offenses that could result in a three-year prison sentence and a €45,000 fine.
The accusations emerged in the spring when a leaked email from OGC Nice’s former football director, Julien Fournier, claimed that Galtier expressed a desire to limit the number of Muslim and black players in the team.
Despite Galtier’s defamation lawsuit against Fournier and two journalists who reported the email, the Nice prosecutor initiated an investigation, leading to the coach being summoned to court.
The trial, expected to last the entire day, is characterized by a «word against word» scenario.
Witness statements and evidence presented in the case, including reports of derogatory comments about Muslims and a culture of discrimination in the locker room, suggest a challenging legal battle.
Notably, allegations include pressure on players observing Ramadan.
While Islam Slimani and Billal Brahimi, cited as victims, were not present at the trial, Fournier highlighted instances where Galtier allegedly opposed Slimani’s recruitment and hesitated to integrate Brahimi, both for reasons related to Ramadan.
In response, Galtier may argue performance inconsistencies and lack of experience as factors influencing player decisions. Former teammates from other clubs defended Galtier in the spring, asserting they had not experienced negative behavior.
Galtier, known for his determined coaching style, faces these allegations as his Qatari team, Al-Duhail, recently suffered a defeat and gears up for another match on Sunday. The trial is expected to bring forth a public and contradictory debate where Galtier aims to demonstrate that he never discriminated or harassed anyone. Galtier, a former professional defender, has had a successful coaching career, notably winning the French championship with Lille in 2017-2021.
His subsequent stint at Nice concluded with a disappointing 5th place in the league and a loss in the Coupe de France final. After joining PSG, Galtier experienced a tumultuous season despite securing the league title.
