French Rugby Federation suspends Jaminet after racist remark in viral video

PARIS – French full-back Melvyn Jaminet was suspended from the national rugby team on Sunday after a video emerged of the player making a racist remark. He later apologized.

The French Rugby Federation (FFR) condemned the comments in a statement published on X, calling them “unacceptable and contrary to the core values ​​of our sport.”

It said that Jaminet was “out of action with immediate effect and would leave the French squad assembled in Argentina.”

In the video, which went viral on Sunday after being shared on social media by French MP Sébastien Delogu, Jaminet can be heard saying: “The first Arab I see on the street, I will headbutt.”

The association also said it was conducting an internal investigation to “shed light on the extremely serious nature of the comments and take appropriate action.”

“Discriminatory behaviour of any kind has no place in French rugby,” the statement continued.

The post is no longer visible on Jaminet’s social media channels. However, the 25-year-old player apologized shortly after his suspension was announced.

“I understand that this has hurt and offended many people and I want to make it clear that these comments do not reflect my values ​​or those of the French national rugby team. Racism in any form is unacceptable and goes against everything I believe in,” he wrote on Instagram.

Substitute Jaminet fired a long-range shot in the first test against hosts Argentina on Saturday, which France won 28-13.

Jaminet has won 20 caps for France. He plays for Toulon in the south of France.

His club also published a statement on X in which it “condemned” Jaminet’s comments and distanced itself from them. Toulon also announced an investigation, but did not comment on a possible suspension of the player.

France have taken a squad of 42 players with them to Argentina, including 22 new internationals, and will play a second friendly in Velez on Saturday.

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AP Rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby