Police in France arrested Nice footballer Youcef Atal for sharing a social media post in the backdrop of the Gaza conflict. According to international media reports, the Nice-Matin daily said that the 27-year-old Algerian defender was arrested for “provoking racial hatred on grounds of religion.” The Nice prosecutor opened an investigation on Oct. 16. Atal, who won the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations with Algeria, shared an Instagram video in October in which a Palestinian preacher prayed to the God to send “a black day for the Jews” amid the Israeli war on Gaza. Then Nice right-back Atal apologized but was suspended by the club for the Gaza post. The French league also banned him for seven matches. Having 29 caps for Algeria, Atal joined Nice from Belgium’s Kortrijk in 2018 to score 12 goals in 115 appearances.
France detains Nice footballer Atal over post on Gaza war
