Scandal in the world of rugby after the broadcast of a video in which the French player, Melvyn Jaminet, made a racist comment after finishing France’s match against Los Pumas of Argentina, which ended 13-28 in favor of the Frenchmen.
“The first Arab I meet on the street, I’m going to headbutt him,” said the defender while walking down the street at night. The French deputy for Marseille Sebastien Delogu echoed it and it went viral on social networks.
Hours later, the player spoke on his Instagram expressing his apologies for his comments. “Racism, in all its forms, is unacceptable and goes against everything I believe in. The FFR and I are at your disposal to clarify this matter,” he wrote.
The first Arab I meet on the street, I’m going to headbutt him
Despite public apologies, the French Rugby Federation (FFR) condemned the comments as “unacceptable and contrary to the fundamental values of our sport.”
“As a consequence, Melvyn Jaminet has dropped out with immediate effect and is leaving the French team that is currently in Argentina,” the Federation statement said.
Additionally, the FFR said it was conducting an internal investigation to “shed light on the extremely serious nature of the comments and take appropriate action.”
“Discriminatory behavior of any kind has no place in French rugby,” the statement added.
Even Toulon, a club of which Jaminet is a member, spoke out on the fact: “(…) The RCT condemns the comments made and disassociates itself from them. An internal investigation is open and the club will communicate more widely at the end of the herself.”
