Complaints were filed for “racist insults” after the end of the D2 football match between Villeveyrac and Celleneuve on December 15. The Hérault district is currently studying the case and a verdict should be rendered within “two to three weeks”.
A matter that will not be resolved on the ground. Several AS Celleneuve players went to the Mèze gendarmerie on December 15 to file a complaint against US Villeveyrac supporters. The latter allegedly uttered racist insults.
Contacted on Friday January 3, the Hérault district, which was alerted of the case, announced that the case is currently being investigated and that the verdict will be rendered within “minimum two to three weeks”.
The second departmental division meeting, between US Villeveyrac and AS Celleneuve, Sunday December 15, was stopped by the referee. A disallowed goal would have changed everything. While Villeveyracois thought they could open the score after half an hour of play, the referee refused the goal after consulting his assistant. An event which would have provoked the anger of certain Villeveyrac supporters. They allegedly uttered racist insults to the Montpellier captain of AS Celleneuve. “Opposing supporters called me Kirikou, a kahlouche (black), and a dirty monkey”explains Kévin Salvador. Aged 35, the central defender who comes from Martinique had never seen this before. “It’s the first time it’s gone this far. I’ve been insulted before but never to this extent. I can’t get rid of the moment in my head when I was called a little monkey.“
After receiving these insults, Kévin Salvador admits to having exchanged with the public in a virulent manner. “I had the ball in my hands and I told them, ‘I’m going to shoot you.’ regrets the captain of AS Celleneuve.
A deleted press release?
The Villeveyrac club formally denies having committed a racist act. Through a press release, the club held “to categorically deny any racist remarks emanating from its players or supporters, whether on or off the field”.
This publication follows a first, which would have been deleted. In it, we could read: “The match was stopped against Montpellier Celleneuve following so-called racist remarks coming from our supporters. Our club has always fought racism and advocates our values which are equality, fraternity and sharing.” The club had, at the same time, announced that it had filed a complaint against X.
D.R.
“We have values at the club and we stick to them. We hope that this match will be replayed and that football will emerge victorious. A game is won on the pitch and not in the disciplinary committee or other committee.”believes Alain Poujade, manager at US Villeveyrac.
For the coach of the club from the Sète area, Frédéric De Felice, it is the incomprehension that takes precedence. “At the time, I believed him. But everyone told me that nothing had been said. They used racism as an excuse and said: ‘we’re not resuming the match otherwise we’re going to do something crazy .”
