“They called me Kirikou and a dirty monkey”: complaints filed after an amateur football match in Hérault

Le match du 15 décembre dernier entre Villeveyrac et Celleneuve a été arrêté. Midi Libre – JEAN-MICHEL MART

Complaints have been filed for "racist insults" after the D2 football match between Villeveyrac and Celleneuve was stopped on 15 December. The Hérault district is currently studying the case and a verdict should be given within "two or three weeks".

A case that will not be resolved on the pitch. Several AS Celleneuve players went to the Mèze police station on 15 December 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 to the case, announced that the case was under investigation and that the verdict would be given in “at least two or three weeks”.

The second division departmental match between US Villeveyrac and AS Celleneuve on Sunday, December 15, was stopped by the referee. A disallowed goal would have changed everything. While the Villeveyracois thought they had opened the scoring after half an hour of play, the referee disallowed the goal after consulting his assistant. An event that would have provoked the anger of some Villeveyrac supporters. They allegedly uttered racist insults to the Montpellier captain of AS Celleneuve. “Opposing supporters called me Kirikou, kahlouche (black), and dirty monkey”, explains Kévin Salvador. Aged 35, the central defender who comes from Martinique had never seen that before. “This is the first time it's gone this far. I've been insulted before but never to this extent. I can't erase from my mind the moment when someone called me a little monkey.“

200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000

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 one, which was apparently deleted. In it, we could read: “The match was stopped against Montpellier Celleneuve following so-called racist remarks 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 was filing a complaint against X.

The first Villeveyrac press release was then probably withdrawn. 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 come out on top. 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 in the Sète area, Frédéric De Felice, it is incomprehension that prevails. “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 restarting the match or we're going to do something crazy.”

I subscribe to read the rest