The French Rugby Federation (FFR) announced the suspension of Melvyn Jaminet, the fullback for France and Toulon’s Top 14 club, following his racist comment on a video he posted on social media. The 25-year-old player’s comment, “the first Arab I come across, I’ll throw him a headbutt,” stirred controversy and was widely distributed online.
Jaminet’s misconduct mirrors a stark contradiction to the core values of rugby, according to a statement from the FFR. They poured scorn on his remark, stating it was absolutely inexcusable. The player is now immediately separated from the French squad that is presently playing on a summer tour in Argentina.
The FFR informed that an internal review is in progress. The French Sports Minister, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, supported the decision by calling for a strict “zero tolerance of racism” on X, the former twitter. This decision marks a significant stand against discrimination in sports.
(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2024