Algerian footballer, Youcef Atal who plies his trade with Ligue 1 side, Nice of France has been detained by French Police after he published a social-media post on the ongoing war in Israel and Palestine.
In the probe launched against Atal, he was charged of suspected “justification of terrorism”
Atal has been criticised for sharing a video from a Palestinian preacher on Instagram, purportedly calling for violence against Jewish people.
Recall that last month, the 27-year-old Algerian defender was banned for seven matches over the post, which he quickly deleted and subsequently issued an apology.
The public prosecutor in Nice opened a probe following a request from the local prefect and mayor of Nice.
Prosecutors later said that Atal will face trial for incitement to religious hatred on December 18 at the Nice criminal court.
His club, Nice of France had already suspended him for the duration of his trial.
Despite the player’s apology, OGC Nice said that it decided to “take immediate” action, “prior” to any sanctions that might be taken by sporting or judicial bodies, “given the nature of the publication shared and its seriousness”.
In mid-October, the Nice public prosecutor announced the opening of an investigation into “justification of terrorism.”
France, which has large Jewish and Muslim populations, ramped up security after Hamas launched massive attacks on Israel on October 7.