The referee of the match between Étoile Béarnaise de Siros and the Croisés de Bayonne, in the 2nd round of the Dargains Cup, on November 24, interrupted the match in the 80th minute, while the visitors were leading 1 to 0. reason for this decision, which will be welcomed by the two clubs: “monkey cries with imitation of supporting gestures” which would have come from two Béarnais “supporters” and would have targeted a 17-year-old player from the Bayonne team.
This Friday, the public prosecutor of Pau, Rodolphe Jarry, who had opened an investigation for incitement to hatred, entrusted to the Pau gendarmerie company, announced the dismissal of the case, “for the benefit of the doubt” and by “insufficient evidence”, he specifies. There will therefore be no criminal prosecution.
Unanimous convictions
The condemnations were unanimous, after the match was interrupted by the referee. The Bayonne Crusaders club had provided “comfort and support” to its young player. “Racism is therefore not the prerogative of professional football stadiums but can also arise around a village stadium,” lamented the club in a press release.
The Étoile Béarnaise club also immediately expressed “its deep indignation” at “unacceptable acts […] which in no way represent the values of our club.” “This behavior has no place in our community,” said the leaders of Étoile, providing their support to the young player from Bayonne.
