Galtier case: the Algerians, the "King Kong" remark... the damning testimonies

Christophe Galtier's trial will formally open on Friday 15 December 2023. The former Nice coach and ex-PSG boss will be tried on charges of "moral harassment and discrimination on the grounds of belonging or not belonging, whether real or supposed, to a particular ethnic group, nation, so-called race or religion". Ahead of the trial, L'Equipe has published statements from the parties involved. Several African players and staff members from his circle have given evidence against him. Frédéric Gioria, Nice's former assistant coach, says that when Algeria international Bilal Brahimi arrived in January 2022, Galtier was far from pleased. "Another Muslim, I don't want him, we've had enough," he is alleged to have said.

Two other Algerians also came in for criticism: Youcef Atal and Hicham Boudaoui. Christophe Galtier is alleged to have called them "nasty pieces of work", adding the comment "the worst are the Algerians". The allegations against the manager also involve other players, however. During a Saint-Etienne v Nice game (25 September 2021), with Saint-Etienne's defence made up of Moukoudi-Mickaël Nadé, Ali Mbaé, Nice's former video assistant, says the coach referred to them as "two King Kongs".

Slimani, another victim?

Galtier is also alleged to have refused to sign Islam Slimani in the summer of 2021. According to Hachim Ali Mbaé, the manager did not want him because he would be leaving for the Africa Cup of Nations in January 2022. Ramadan 2022 is also said to have posed a problem.

As a result, Christophe Galtier is said to have turned to another Algerian, Andy Delort. Conveniently enough, the latter decided to put his international career "on hold" a few weeks after his arrival. That meant he missed the Africa Cup of Nations...