Nice suspend Youcef Atal for post about Israel-Hamas war

Algerian international Youcef Atal was suspended by Nice on Wednesday for a post on social media regarding the war between Israel and Hamas, the Ligue 1 club announced on Wednesday.

Atal, a defender present in Nice since 2018, has since apologized and deleted the message.

He was on international mission with Algeria and was summoned to speak with the club upon his return.

More than 4,000 people died in the war which began on October 7.

“OGC Nice understands that the player recognized his error by quickly deleting the sharing of the publication and presenting his written and public apologies,” Nice said in a press release.

“Nevertheless, given the nature of the shared publication and its seriousness, the club has taken the decision to immediately take the first disciplinary sanctions against the player, before those that could be decided by the sporting and judicial authorities.

“As such, the club has decided to suspend Youcef Atal until further notice.”

“I am aware that my message shocked many people, which was not my intention, and I apologize for that,” Atal, 27, said on Instagram on Sunday.

“I wish to clarify my point of view without any ambiguity: I strongly denounce all forms of violence, everywhere in the world, and I support all victims.”

Bundesliga club Mainz suspended striker Anwar El Ghazi on Tuesday for a social media post about the war between Israel and Hamas, which the German club deemed “unacceptable.