President Macron Warns Fabien Galthié After Controversial Squad Replacement Choice
Yesterday, French President Emmanuel Macron was recorded without his knowledge warning head coach Fabien Galthié about the potential negative consequences of calling up Bordeaux lock Bastien Chalureau as a replacement. Macron emphasized the importance of handling the situation surrounding Chalureau’s inclusion responsibly, so as not to disrupt the ongoing national event.
In 2020, Chalureau was found guilty of committing “acts of violence with racial motivations” and received a six-month prison sentence. He is currently appealing this judgment.
Renowned former France captain Thierry Dusautoir criticized Galthié’s decision to include Chalureau in the team after losing another key player, Paul Willemse, to injury. Additionally, prominent opposition politicians have condemned the selection.
During a routine visit to the French camp, President Macron raised the topic with Galthié, expressing his concerns about the controversy. This conversation was inadvertently recorded by a boom mic that was still active.
“We need to handle the Chalureau situation carefully and prevent it from spiraling out of control,” emphasized the French President. Galthié responded, referring to his previous press conference with captain Antoine Dupont, saying, “We addressed it yesterday. Bastien needs to address the situation himself. If he needs to express his emotions, he should do so openly. He needs to speak his mind.”
Last night, Chalureau faced the media and emotionally stated, “I am not a racist,” while addressing the accusations against him. He acknowledged his past mistakes, claimed to have paid his debts, and denied making any racist remarks. Chalureau also revealed that the French team staff were aware of his situation from the beginning, indicating it was a well-known matter.
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Chalureau’s tearful statement might not be sufficient to quell the critics, especially with the president of the French Rugby Federation (FFR) issuing an anti-racism message amidst the controversy.
Thierry Dusautoir’s comments emphasized the discontent surrounding Chalureau’s inclusion, as he expressed his personal opinion as a friend of the victim involved in the case. Dusautoir admitted his lack of objectivity in the matter due to his strong stance against Chalureau’s presence in the French team.
The French sports minister expressed her inability to interfere in Chalureau’s selection due to the ongoing legal case against him.
This controversy poses a threat to France’s preparations for the tournament, as they also grapple with several major injuries. Romain Ntamack, Paul Willemse, Jonathan Danty, and Cyril Baille are all sidelined due to injuries. Meanwhile, New Zealand is also facing injury issues, with Jordie Barrett, Tyrel Lomax, Brodie Retallick, and Shannon Frizell expected to miss the opening night.
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