Nice’s Atal banned for 7 games for sharing Israel-Hamas post

Nice defender Youcef Atal has been suspended for seven matches by Ligue 1 for a post on social networks concerning the Israel-Hamas war, it was announced on Wednesday.

Nice had already suspended Atal last week until further notice and said it had apologized for his actions. After the matter was examined by the French Football Federation’s ethics committee, the French League’s disciplinary commission suspended Atal.

Atal’s suspension comes after the Nice prosecutor’s office opened a preliminary investigation targeting Atal for “apology of terrorism” for sharing the message online. The prosecutor’s office said Atal was also under investigation for “public incitement to hatred or violence based on a particular religion.”

Atal, 27, who also plays for the Algerian national team, apologized after reposting and then deleting a video in which a Palestinian preacher made an anti-Semitic statement.

Writing on Instagram, Atal said he understood his message offended some people and said he condemned all forms of violence, “no matter where in the world”.