Paris Saint-Germain boss Christophe Galtier has received more than 5,000 messages in the past 24 hours, including death threats, amid allegations of racist remarks made when he was Nice boss.
The accusations against the PSG coach date from prior to his arrival in the French capital, back when he was manager of Ligue 1 rivals Nice. RMC Sport now details the threats made against Galtier since the alleged comments were circulated.
Meanwhile, the Collectif Ultras Paris, PSG’s biggest supporters group, have called on Galtier to resign should the comments be confirmed. They released a statement on Wednesday. They added: “We remind everyone that we have always taken a stand against all forms of discrimination, and this fight is a historic cause of our stance.”
Galtier has already confirmed his intention to take legal action against the "insulting and defamatory comments" made against him while PSG are said to be supporting him in his denial of the claims. Galtier’s lawyer, speaking to AFP, outlined how his client “denies in the strongest terms ” the alleged remarks.
It comes after reports of emails sent from Nice’s former Director of Football Julien Fournier, who left the club last summer, to the French club in which he accused Galtier of making racist remarks.
The email was first reported by French football journalist Romain Molina on Tuesday night by RMC Sport ’s l’After Foot show backed up the claims. The email alleges that Galtier told Fournier that Nice “could not have so many blacks and Muslims in the team.”
It is claimed by RMC that Fournier’s email was sent to INEOS director Dave Brailsford in which he allegedly highlighted his concerns with comments made by Galtier. It follows on from a report in Nice-Matin earlier this month that Galtier had allegedly asked Muslim players in his side not to fast during Ramadan.
Galtier is said to have complained about the impacts that fasting would have on their performance, with the club providing him with fitness information of each player which showed that fasting had no impact on their performance.
A statement from Nice on Wednesday clarified that both men had already left the club and added: “This situation was treated with the utmost seriousness at the time of the events. The club will make no further comment.”
Fournier has also addressed the allegations, as per GFFN, in which he complained of the “timing” of the leak while not offering an outright refusal of its contents.
Galtier’s position as PSG boss is already under scrutiny following the club’s Champions League exit at the Round of 16 stage, while also falling short in the Coupe de France. They are currently six points clear at the top of Ligue 1.
