Brest release statement in support of Islam Slimani over alleged racist insults | OneFootball

In an official statement from the club, Stade Brestois have condemned racist insultes allegedly coming from Clermont captain Johan Gastien. The club said the following on the matter:

Stade Brestois brings all its support to its player Islam Slimani, who reported having been the victim of racist insults during the match against Clermont during the 12th day of Ligue 1 Uber Eats.

The club has always condemned all forms of discrimination or racism and can not accept such abuses. The Stade Brestois is now at the disposal of the authorities and asks the Disciplinary Commission to shed light on these facts.

As reported by L’Équipe, Amazon Prime’s Ligue 1 coverage showed Brest striker Islam Slimani appearing to go up to the fourth official midway through the Breton side’s game against Clermont this afternoon to complain of a racist comment by an opponent.

The former Monaco and Lyon forward ostensibly told the referee that he had been called a “dirty arab” while pointing out one of the Clermont players.

After Brest’s 3-1 win, the Algerian international told journalists in the mixed zone that it was the captain (midfielder Johan Gastien) who had insulted him, and claimed that he was called a “dirty blédard” [blédard being a pejorative term for rural North Africans]. Slimani added that “I think it’s serious, in this day and age, to be called a dirty blédard. I’m proud to be a blédard, I’m proud to be Algerian”.

Gastien himself has denied the accusation, insisting that “I would never in my life say that”. “The issue in this story is that I’m the one who’s going to look like a fool. I know what I said, my colleagues out on the pitch also heard what happened”.