- The 25-year-old shared the message after France’s 28-13 win over Argentina on July 6
- Eight-week ban can be replaced by actions, including visiting schools
- The fullback made 20 appearances for the national team and won the Six Nations League.
French rugby star Melvyn Jaminet will be sidelined for six months after a video of the Toulon defender making a racist remark went viral on social media.
The 25-year-old shared the clip on his Instagram account after taking a penalty in France’s 28-13 win over Argentina on July 6.
“I promise to headbutt the first Arab I see on the pitch,” Jaminet said in the video during the French team’s tour of the South American country earlier this month.
The defender apologized for the comments and deleted the post from his account, but the message has since been widely circulated online.
Jaminet now faces a 34-week ban, the French Rugby Federation (FFR) said on Friday after its disciplinary board found that Jaminet had “undermined the interests of rugby,” the Independent reports.
French rugby star Melvyn Jaminet will be sidelined for six months after a video went viral showing the Toulon defender making a racist remark
The 25-year-old shared the clip on his Instagram account after taking a penalty in France’s 28-13 win over Argentina on Saturday
Eight weeks can be replaced by certain actions, such as visiting schools ‘to promote the values of sport in relation to the fight against discrimination’ and raising awareness of social media and alcohol.
The rugby star was also fined €30,000 (£25,000) for his comments.
Jaminet previously apologized for the video, saying: “I understand that this has 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 any form, is unacceptable and goes against everything I believe in.”
Earlier this month, the French Rugby Federation issued a statement condemning his comments and announcing that he had been removed from the tour of Argentina.
“Such comments are completely unacceptable and contrary to the fundamental values of our sport,” the FFR statement said.
‘As a result, Melvyn Jaminet has been removed from the French squad and is currently leaving it in Argentina.
‘An internal investigation is currently underway to bring these remarks, which are of a very serious nature, to light. Appropriate action will be taken.
“Rugby is a sport that brings people together and unites them, and we must promote these essential values. No discriminatory behaviour of any kind has a place in French rugby.”
Jaminet has made 20 appearances for his national team, including a win in the Six Nations
Jaminet later apologized for the comment, insisting in an Instagram post that the words do not reflect his values
Toulon had previously backed Jaminet following a disciplinary meeting with the club’s management, saying they believed in the possibility of ‘redemption’ for their star player.
Jaminet has made 20 appearances for Les Bleus since making his international debut in 2021.
The Toulon star was part of the team that won the Six Nations title for France for the first time in more than a decade in 2022.