Watan-The French Court of Appeals has upheld the initial verdict against Algerian international footballer Youcef Atal, confirming an 8-month suspended prison sentence and a €45,000 fine, in connection with his support for Palestine.
During the appeals hearing held earlier in April, the public prosecutor’s office in Aix-en-Provence requested the court uphold the original ruling against Atal, who was charged with inciting religious hatred.
The case stems from an incident on October 12, 2023, when Atal—then a player for OGC Nice—shared a video on his Instagram account featuring Palestinian preacher Mahmoud Hasanat reciting a prayer against Jews. The French judiciary deemed the act as incitement to hatred.
Before the court in Aix-en-Provence, Atal defended himself by saying he had no intention of inciting hatred, and stated:“I’m a football player, not a politician.”
He explained that he posted the video simply to express solidarity with Palestinians under bombardment at the time, and emphasized he was not anti-Jewish. He added that his support for the Palestinian cause does not imply hostility toward any other group. He also said he hadn’t watched the video until the end, and wouldn’t have shared it had he done so.
Atal Defends Palestine Post, Faces Pressure and Career Fallout in France
Despite his explanation, prosecutor Valérie Tavernier insisted on upholding the original sentence, arguing that the video constituted “clear incitement to hatred,” even if indirectly. She stressed that Atal, as a public figure with millions of followers, should have been more aware of the impact of his posts.
Since the beginning of the case, Atal has faced immense pressure, prompting him to issue a statement rejecting all forms of violence and affirming his support for peace and victims everywhere.
In France, the controversy escalated when Christian Estrosi, the mayor of Nice, posted a statement threatening to expel Atal from the club. Major sports outlets like L’Équipe also launched harsh criticism, calling for his punishment. This media and political pressure led to Atal’s departure from OGC Nice in summer 2024, and also blocked his transfer to Olympique de Marseille due to the public uproar.
Atal received widespread support in Algeria from media outlets and political parties. After leaving France, he briefly played in Turkey, and has since settled at Al-Sadd SC in Qatar, where he continues his football career away from the controversy he faced in Europe.
-
-
-
-
-
-
