France suspends Melvyn Jaminet after publishing a video clip

On Sunday evening, the French Rugby Federation decided to suspend Melvyn Jaminet from the French national team squad due to alleged racist remarks.

The issue came to light in the early evening of July 7, when a video was posted on the player’s official Instagram account in which the international full-back made racist comments. The video has since been deleted but continues to circulate on social media.

The video shows the RC Toulon full-back filming himself on the street at night, speaking to the camera in an unstructured manner, as if he were under the influence of alcohol: “My Daronne (my mother, editor’s note) asks me if I’ve been partying… (he exhales) I swear, the first Arab I see on the street… I’ll hit him with my helmet… I’ll hit him with my helmet… I say: I’ll hit him with my helmet… I’ll hit him with my helmet…”

Melvyn JAMINET, a professional rugby player with RUGBY CLUB TOULONNAIS and NIKE partner, posted a video that night: “The first Arab to cross the track will be given a helmet.” pic.twitter.com/gjWcoLlrGS

– Lili (@ledestindequi) July 7, 2024

No information has been released about when or where the video was posted, however, it appears that the video was posted to Reels when the player was cold. In the following snippet, he says, “Oulala, I’m cold… I’m cold…”

But the French team is on tour in Argentina, where it is winter. At the end of the video, he pretends to vomit.

Complaints from FFR and RCT

However, the French Rugby Federation (FFR) said it would “examine the facts before making an official statement.”

This statement was not long in coming: on Sunday evening at 9:35 p.m. a press release was issued condemning the comments.

“The French Rugby Federation (FFR) strongly condemns the comments made by Melvyn Jaminet in a recent video posted on social media. Such comments are totally unacceptable and violate the core values ​​of our sport,” the report said.

“For this reason, Melvyn Jaminet has been suspended with immediate effect and is leaving the French team, which is currently in Argentina.

“An internal investigation is underway to fully address these extremely serious comments 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 have a duty to promote these core values. Discriminatory behaviour of any kind has no place in French rugby.”

At the same time, RC Toulon, the club with which Jaminet signed in 2023, also condemned the comments on X: “Following the video with Melvyn Jaminet published on social media, RCT condemns and distances itself from the comments made. An internal investigation has been launched and the club will communicate more fully once this investigation is complete.”