Nice suspend defender Atal for alleged anti-Semitic post

(FILES) Algeria’s defender Youcef Atal attends a press conference at the 30 June Stadium in Cairo on July 6, 2019, on the eve of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) Round of 16 football match between Algeria and Guinea. – Ligue 1 side Nice suspended Algerian international Youcef Atal “until further notice” on Wednesday after he shared a controversial post on social media linked to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas. (Photo by Khaled DESOUKI / AFP)

Ligue 1 side Nice suspended Algerian international Youcef Atal “until further notice” on Wednesday after he shared a controversial post on social media linked to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas.

Even though he quickly deleted the post and apologised, the club said in a press release that, given the “seriousness” of the post, it was taking immediate disciplinary action “prior to any action that may be taken by the sporting and legal authorities”.

French prosecutors on Monday launched a preliminary investigation into Atal on suspicion of “glorifying terrorism”.

Atal, 27, was called into a meeting with the club hierarchy following his return from international duty with Algeria, during which period he made the post.

“We would like to emphasise that the reputation and unity of OGC Nice depends on the behaviour of all of its employees, who must be in accordance with the values defended by the institution,” said the club, adding its “firm commitment to ensuring that peace prevails over all other considerations”.

Atal has been widely criticised since Saturday for sharing a video from a Palestinian preacher on Instagram, purportedly calling for violence against Jewish people.

Football officials, politicians, a