IIt was a scrutinized return which could not have gone better for the person concerned: author of the third try for Stade Rochelais which hosted Stade Français on Saturday November 2 (35-18), the third row received a standing ovation. Many supporters chanted his name. Situation which recurred during the victory lap. Loud “Jegou, Jegou” could be heard in the stands addressed to a player considered the best of the match.
Oscar Jegou, targeted by the complaint of a woman accusing him and the Palois Hugo Auradou of having raped her in a hotel in Argentina, is awaiting, without ceasing to proclaim his innocence, a dismissal hearing which does not ceases to be postponed. At the stadium, he responded to his supporters by forming a heart with his hands and taking selfies. Images of communion which, however, have not relieved Marcel-Deflandre of the shadow of Mendoza.
“This could have been avoided”
If the majority of criticism on social networks comes from supporters of other teams, there are Yellow and Black for whom this escalation of applause appeared completely inappropriate. “What happened yesterday [samedi] evening at Deflandre shook me deeply,” shares Axel Pillaud in a letter on “He was loudly acclaimed, on multiple occasions, while the expected dismissal has still not been pronounced. » Expressing his “deep embarrassment”, he fears the message sent to people filing complaints for acts of violence. “I regret that the supporters have been placed in this situation by the club. With more hindsight, this could have been avoided. »
Another subscriber found it useful to point out that it was not the whole stadium which lent itself to the ovation: “but it is clear that feminism took a beating yesterday. »
“The ovation after the try of the player whose dismissal was not pronounced hurt me”
The former socialist regional councilor and former La Rochelle elected official Maryline Simoné relays the same feeling of unease: “I asked myself the question of going to Deflandre or not. But Stade Rochelais is my family and rugby is my passion! The ovation after the try of the player whose dismissal was not pronounced hurt me. Unbearable message sent to victims of proven sexual violence,” she writes.
At the end of the match, the player went to meet the fans, signing autographs and having his photo taken with his fans.
XAVIER LÉOTY / SO
Presumption of innocence
These positions generate heated debates with those who support the choice of Stade Rochelais and who consider that the “public cannot be blamed for cheering a man who is innocent until proven guilty”. “Like Will Skelton, among others, he was praised by part of Deflandre as for any other player for his evening performance, defend the La Rochelle Bagnards. As a reminder, the presumption of innocence prevails and he is not prohibited from doing his job. »
The debate seemed inevitable. The same was imposed on Saturday October 12 in Pau, when Hugo Auradou, who was playing again for the first time since the affair of July 7, was given a standing ovation by supporters.
Saturday evening, in Deflandre, we could wear the same jersey but not belong to the same camp.
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