Algerian Islam Slimani accuses French Johan Gastien of racism

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While the Ligue 1 match between Clermont and Brest was proceeding normally on Sunday, Brest striker Islam Slimani ran to the fourth referee before the break to inform him that he had been the victim of a character insult, racism, from one of the opposition players. "He called me a dirty Arab," he said twice.

After the game, Islam Slimani spoke to France Bleu Breizh Izel, expressing his outrage at such statements and partially rectifying the insult he said he had received: "It's serious these days to be called a dirty bastard. I'm proud to be from Blédard and an Algerian [...] I'm not crazy, and I'm not going to accuse incorrectly."

Clermont captain Johan Gastien, whom Islam Slimani accused of racim, responded to the accusation, saying, "He says a lot of things, I am calm in my skin. Never in my life would I say such a thing."

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In another event, the English Premier League announced on August 4, after a meeting held between the league’s administration and top-flight captains of the teams, that the gesture of taking a knee will be limited to certain matches in the 2022/23 season of the games. 

The initiative against racism, initiated by the football players themselves, represents a motif that racist behavior won’t have its space in football or society, which was highly noted in a statement by the league.

"Players will take the knee during the opening match round of the season, dedicated No Room for Racism match rounds in October and March, Boxing Day fixtures following the conclusion of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, Premier League matches on the final day of the season and The FA Cup and EFL Cup Finals," the statement read.