“A surge of hateful and racist comments” published online on X (formerly Twitter) in response to the official photo of the FC Metz team pushed SOS Racisme to file a complaint this Thursday. In a press release, the association cites, for example, references to “an ‘African team’ which would come from ‘Lampedusa'”.
SOS Racisme announced on Thursday that it had filed a complaint following “hateful and racist” comments published online on X (formerly Twitter) in response to the official photo of the FC Metz team, published in September. “A surge of hateful and racist comments was noted due to the skin color of some of the players,” explains SOS Racisme in a press release, which cites for example references to “an ‘African team’ which would come from ‘ Lampedusa’.
“Unacceptable” and “far from isolated” acts
When asked, the Moselle club did not wish to comment. “We have been in contact with the associations which fight against racism since this famous tweet” and “were aware of their approach”, it was simply indicated. The association denounced “unacceptable” and “far from isolated” acts, and filed a complaint with the Metz public prosecutor. The local association SOS Racisme Moselle did the same.
“These comments are not without echoing the racist remarks and acts which have multiplied in football stadiums in recent years”, recalls SOS Racisme, which notes that these acts “are repeated beyond sports venues dedicated to football” . “These incriminating comments show the inability of too many people to see people beyond their skin color,” deplores president of SOS Racisme, Dominique Sopo, quoted in the press release.