France suspends Melvyn Jaminet for racist social media post

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French full-back Melvyn Jaminet has been suspended from the national team after posting a video on social media containing a racist comment, the French Rugby Federation (FFR) said on Sunday.

The 25-year-old, who plays for Top 14 club Toulon, said in a video that was recently widely shared: “The first Arab I see, I’ll headbutt.”

The French team is currently playing a summer tour in Argentina.

“The FFR strongly condemns the comments made by Melvyn Jaminet in a video recently published on social networks. Such comments are totally unacceptable and violate the fundamental values ​​of our sport,” the FFR said in a statement.

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

Jaminet apologized for his comments in a post on Instagram.

“I understand that this may have hurt and offended many people and I want to make it clear that these comments in no way reflect my values ​​or those of the French rugby team,” he wrote.

“Racism in all its forms is unacceptable and goes against everything I believe in.”

The FFR added that an internal investigation was ongoing.

The decision was welcomed by French Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera, who called for zero tolerance towards racism in a post on X.