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Melvyn Jaminet suspended by France after video clip circulated
On Sunday evening, the French Rugby Federation decided to suspend Melvyn Jaminet from the France squad for alleged racist comments.
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The issue came to light in the early evening of 7 July when a video of the international full-back making racist comments was posted on the player’s official Instagram account. The video has since been deleted, but continues to circulate widely on social media.
It shows the RC Toulon full-back filming himself on a street at night, speaking to the camera in an unstructured manner, as if under the influence of alcohol: “My Daronne (my mother, editor’s note) asks me if I’ve been partying… (he breathes out) I swear, the first Arab I see on the street… I will headbutt him… I will headbutt him… I say: I will headbutt him… Headbutt, I will…”
Melvyn JAMINET joueur de rugby professionnel au RUGBY CLUB TOULONNAIS et partenaire de NIKE a posté cette nuit une vidéo : « le premier arabe que je croise sur la route je lui mets un coup de casque » pic.twitter.com/gjWcoLlrGS
— Lili (@ledestindequi) July 7, 2024
No information has been released as to when or where the video was posted. However, it appears that the video was posted in reels when the player was cold. In the following excerpt, he says: “Oulala, I’m freezing… I’m freezing…”.
But the French team are on tour in Argentina, where it’s winter. At the end of the video, he pretends to vomit.
Complaints from FFR and RCT
However, the French Rugby Federation (FFR) said it would “check the facts before making an official statement”.
That statement was not long in coming, with a press release issued at 9.35pm on Sunday night condemning the comments.
“The French Rugby Federation (FFR) strongly condemns the comments made by Melvyn Jaminet in a recent video posted on social media. Such comments are totally unacceptable and contrary to the fundamental values of our sport,” it said.
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“As a result, Melvyn Jaminet has been suspended with immediate effect and is leaving the French squad currently in Argentina.
“An internal investigation is underway to shed full light on these extremely serious comments and to take the appropriate action.
“The FFR reaffirms its unwavering commitment to diversity, inclusion and laïcité. Rugby is a sport that brings people together and unites them, and we have a duty to promote these core values. Discriminatory behaviour of any kind has no place in French rugby”.
At the same time, RC Toulon, the club where Jaminet had signed in 2023, also condemned the comments on X: “Following the video posted on social media involving Melvyn Jaminet, RCT condemns and distances itself from the comments made. An internal investigation has been launched and the club will communicate more widely once this is complete”.
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Later that evening, the player apologised in a story posted on his Instagram account: “I am deeply ashamed of my words,” he wrote. “I would like to apologise to everyone. I understand that this may have hurt and offended many people and I want to make it clear that these comments in no way reflect my values or those of the French rugby team.
“Racism, in all its forms, is unacceptable and goes against everything I believe in.
“I understand the FFR’s sanction and I am at their disposal to shed light on this matter. Melvyn.”
Haha he has a bit of a boozing problem aye and bloody mum is on his case from thousands of miles away! Poor Arabs, topic of the day, and very straight laced people it seems!
Good mums though ❤️!?
Freedom of speech aside, he is an employee of an organisation which is trying to promote inclusion and he’s publicly espousing hate speech, that is gross misconduct.
When will people realize alcohol is not your friend
When will people realise it’s just alcohol (some ‘unfortunates’ live with that every day).
So Mohammed Haouas can beat the crap out of his wife in public, repeatedly rob shops, brawl in a bakery and be jailed, but it’s still OK for him to play for Biarritz and now Montpellier.
But Jaminet, who's white, should be banned for life for having made a silly little video of himself which hurt NOBODY, other than the sensibilities of a couple of woke snowflakes.
The hell with that. They're not a protected species.
Wow, really? He got banned for life by World Rugby?
Wow.
That level of fragility and lack of empathy.
Stuart Hogg?
Bastien Chalureau?
Both white? Also playing or signing for Montpellier?
You’re missing the common trait here: they’re all men.
Haouas should be banned for life.
Jaminet has committed gross misconduct and should also lose his job just as you or I would. If you work for an organisation which promotes inclusion and you public talk about wanting to make racially aggravated assault then that is definitely grounds for dismissal.
Racism needs to be absolutely punished and in the harshest and swiftest way possible. He should lose his job, his contract should be terminated and he should be banned from all forms of rugby for life.
For making a bad joke?
Bret should be banned from rugbypass for life.
Fair enough. But he should be able to have the ban lifted with a review. Dude has got be able to turn his life around for the better afterward.
He can think and say what he wants, people don’t have to listen. Do you need a safe space ?
Absolutely.
Bad enough to hold such views but to basically live stream your descent into madness, is jaw dropping.
Deserves everything that's coming his way.
Never drink on an empty head!
Or stomach
Absolute fool. Brain damage levels of stupid.