Melvyn Jaminet: Suspended French rugby player leaves Argentina tour after making racist comment in social media post

CNN
—

French rugby player Melvyn Jaminet has pulled out of his team’s tour of Argentina after being suspended for making a racist remark in a video posted on his social media accounts. He has since apologised.

In the post, which has since been deleted but was widely shared on social media, the 25-year-old can be heard making racist and violent remarks against Arabs.

The French Rugby Federation (FFR) said in a statement that it “strongly condemns” Jaminet’s comments and announced that the defender had been suspended from the Argentina tour.

“Melvyn Jaminet was immediately excluded from the squad and left the French team, which is currently in Argentina,” the FFR said.

“Such statements are completely unacceptable and violate the fundamental values ​​of our sport,” the FFR added. “An internal investigation is underway to fully clarify these extremely serious statements and take appropriate action.”

“The FFR reaffirms its unwavering commitment to diversity, inclusion and secularism. Rugby is a sport that brings people together and unites them and we must promote these essential values. There is no place for discriminatory behaviour of any kind in French rugby.”

Jaminet, who came on as a substitute in France’s 28-13 win over Argentina in Mendoza on Saturday, apologized via his Instagram story.

“I deeply regret and am ashamed of my words. I would like to apologize to everyone. I understand that this may have hurt and offended many people and I would like to make it clear that these remarks in no way reflect my values ​​or those of the French national rugby team,” he wrote.

“Racism in all its forms is unacceptable and goes against everything I believe in. I understand the FFR’s sanction and am at their disposal to shed light on this matter.”

CNN has asked Jaminet for comment.

At club level, Jaminet plays for Toulon in France. Toulon stated in a post on X that it “condemns” and “distances itself from” Jaminet’s comments. The team added that it had also launched an investigation into the matter.

Jaminet has been a regular for the French national team since his debut in 2021.

At last year’s World Cup, held in France, Jaminet played in all four of the team’s group matches, scoring two tries, including a crucial late one against New Zealand – his first touchdown for The blue.

Jaminet came on in the 72nd minute of France’s match against Argentina at the Estadio Malvinas Argentinas on Saturday and converted a penalty in the 76th minute to seal the 28-13 victory. According to a post on the FFR’s Instagram account, the team arrived in Argentina at the end of June.

France’s Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra welcomed the FFR’s decision to suspend Jaminet and called for “zero tolerance towards racism”.