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The Paris Saint-Germain head coach, Christophe Galtier, was taken into police custody on Friday, June 30 as part of an investigation over racist and discriminatory remarks about players when he was in charge of Nice last season. According to the public prosecutor of Nice (Alpes-Maritimes), the one who is still officially the coach of the football club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) is currently heard by the judicial police in Nice with his son, John Valovic.
The allegations were made in leaked emails of Julien Fournier, the former Director of Football at Nice, who claimed that Galtier had complained to him in August 2021 that he "could not have so many blacks and Muslims in the team".
The emails were apparently sent to Sir Dave Brailsford, Director of Sport for Ineos, who is also the owner of Nice and is also expected to be interviewed by the police as a witness. The Nice prosecution office launched a preliminary investigation into "discrimination based on alleged race or religion" last week and searched the headquarters of Nice on Friday.
Galtier, who left Nice in June 2022 to take over at PSG, has vehemently denied the allegations and said he would be launching legal action against Fournier and the journalists who first reported on the email.
Galtier said, "I have been extremely shocked by the allegations that some people have irresponsibly made and relayed. These allegations hurt me in the deepest part of my being.”
The coach continued, "I cannot accept that my name and my family could be tarnished in this way. So I have decided to take legal action against anyone damaging my reputation. I trust our legal system and I also welcome the start of a legal proceeding this morning with serenity. I will not make any more comments on this matter."
A number of Nice players and coaches, as well as President Jean-Pierre Rivere and Reserve Manager Didier Digard, are believed to have already been interviewed by investigators. The scandal has overshadowed PSG's transfer window plans as the Parisian club lost Lionel Messi to Inter Miami. Galtier is rumored to be replaced by former Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann.
