Racist abuse allegations from French cup tie spark calls for inquiry

By David Gold

April 15 – The France-based International League against Racism and Anti-Semitism (LICRA) has demanded an immediate inquiry into allegations that racist abuse was aimed at Lyon striker Bafétimbi Gomis during a cup tie in Corsica.

Gomis alleged that monkey noises were made throughout the Coupe de France semi-final with Gazélec d’Ajaccio, which the Ligue 1 side convincingly won 4-0 to reach their second cup final of the season.

The French international (pictured top, against Gazélec) also claimed that he had a banana thrown at him, and when he scored his team’s fourth goal in injury time he was forced to cup his hands to his ears.

“It’s for this reason that I covered my ears when celebrating my goal,” he told leParisien.

“Maybe I should not have…I let myself get carried away but I was sad for my brothers [of colour] who experience these things when they come here.”

The bad-tempered match – which saw Ligue 3 (National Championship) side Ajaccio reduced to 10 men in the first half when Anthony Colinet launched into a dangerous tackle on young French forward Alexandre Lacazette – was held up for five minutes by a brawl at the game’s conclusion.

LICRA has criticised the French Football Federation (FFF) for its reaction to the incident and has called for an urgent inquiry.

“LICRA is surprised by the lack of a reaction from the FFF in the last 48 hours and asks for an inquiry to be opened without delay,” the organisation said in a statement.

“LICRA has listened to the testimony of Bafétimbi Gomis; the player affirmed that he was the victim of racism from the Corsican supporters.”

Last year the FFF was engulfed in another racism row after tape recordings of meetings involving senior national team officials, including France coach Laurent Blanc, were made public and highlighted those present discussing a quota for black and Arab players in French youth teams.

Blanc – who, after taking control of the national team, appointed [black player] Alou Diarra (pictured above, in white), the Marseille midfielder, as captain – was later cleared of any wrongdoing.

Responding to the Gomis case, LICRA also highlighted a number of similar incidents on the island of Corsica, which is situated between France and Italy, in the last few years.

“LICRA is alarmed in recent years at the increase of such incidents in Corsica,” it said.

“This latest one, if proved, would echo the racist incidents at matches between FC Calvi and the AJ Auxerre reserves in January, and the meeting between AC Ajaccio and Le Havre.

“For its part, LICRA has already had contact with Lyon to deal with the matter.”

Lyon will now face amateur side US Quevilly in the final of the Coupe de France.

Quevilly will hope to become the first third-tier team to lift the trophy following a remarkable cup run which has seen them beat Ligue 1 sides Marseille and Stade Rennais in earlier rounds.

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