The French XV’s South American tour is going badly: after Melvyn Jaminet’s racist blunder, two new players from the Blues are the subject of a complaint for sexual assault and were arrested by the police in Argentina on Monday.
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The two rugby players must be transferred to Mendoza (central-west), the place of the alleged attack and where the Blues played their first match on Saturday against the Argentine selection (28-13). According to the local press, the alleged attack took place, on the night of Saturday to Sunday, at the Diplomatic Hotel in Mendoza, where players and staff were staying during the test against the Pumas.
The prosecutor has requested the immediate arrest of the suspects, who are in Buenos Aires for the rest of their summer tour. Fabien Galthié’s Les Bleus are due to leave for Montevideo on Tuesday, where they will face the Uruguayan team on Wednesday. The French XV will then return to Buenos Aires to face Argentina again on Saturday.
Contacted by AFP, the French Rugby Federation did not immediately respond. FFR President Florian Grill and Vice-President Jean-Marc Lhermet were on the plane to Argentina and were due to arrive late Monday night.
Racist remarks by Melvyn Jaminet
This story comes the day after the Melvyn Jaminet affairremoved from the group after racist remarks in a video published on Sunday and which he said was “ ashamed “. “ My mom [ma mère, NDLR] who asks me if I partied (he sighs). I swear to you, the first Arab I meet on the road, I hit him with my helmet “, declares, visibly annoyed, the player (25 years old, 20 caps) who films himself in this short undated video, posted on Instagram and since deleted.
In a press release published shortly after its broadcast, the French Rugby Federation condemned “with the greatest firmness” the comments made by Melvyn Jaminet which are ” totally unacceptable and contrary to the fundamental values of our sport “. The player “ has been sidelined with immediate effect and leaves the France group currently present in Argentina “, added the FFR, stressing that a “ internal investigation » was in progress for « take appropriate action “.
Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra had praised on X a “ rapid and appropriate reaction to the fear caused by Melvyn Jaminet’s comments “, adding “ ZERO tolerance against racism “. The Rugby Club toulonnais (RCT) reacted on its X account, ” condemning the remarks made and dissociating itself from them ” and also announcing the opening of a “ internal investigation “.
Melvyn Jaminet came on in the 73rd minute of the victory against Argentina (28-13), Saturday in Mendoza, the first for the Pumas since 2016. Replacing full-back Léo Barré, he scored two points by converting winger Théo Attissogbe’s try (76th).
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