French rugby player Jaminet banned for 34 weeks after racist video

Frenchman Melvyn Jaminet has been suspended from all competitions for 34 weeks after recording a video with racist comments, the French Rugby Federation (FFR) said on Friday.

“Following the FFR Disciplinary Committee meeting held today (Friday), it was decided that Melvyn Jaminet had ‘been prejudicial to the greater interests of rugby’,” the association said in a statement.

According to the FFR, the player was also fined 30,000 euros (32,500 dollars).

The federation added that “8 weeks of the 34-week suspension can nevertheless be replaced by community service activities for the benefit of the FFR”, such as “prevention measures focusing on the dangers associated with alcohol and social networks” or “actions to promote the values ​​of sport with a focus on combating discrimination”.

Full-back Jaminet, 25, was dropped from the squad during the Argentina tour earlier this month due to comments made in an Instagram story that was later deleted.

“I promise I will headbutt the first Arab I see on the street,” Jaminet says in the video, posted after France defeated Argentina in a friendly match in the Latin American country on July 6.

The following day, the FFR described Jaminet’s comments as “completely unacceptable” and announced an internal investigation, having removed him from the team.

On Tuesday afternoon, Jaminet had a meeting with the management of his club Toulon as part of disciplinary proceedings against him.

In a press release published the following day, the club announced that it would make its decision “in the next few days”.

On July 9, the Paris public prosecutor’s office also launched an investigation into the incident due to “death threats based on origin” following a complaint from the anti-racism NGO SOS Racisme.

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