Youcef Atal won’t play for OGC Nice again; club looking to sell in January | OneFootball

Nice-Matin are reporting that Youcef Atal (27) will not play for OGC Nice again with the club keen to sell the player during the January transfer window.

Atal has not played for Nice since 1st October. The Algerian international is suspended not only by the LFP but also by his own club after sharing an anti-Semitic post during the October international break. He relayed a post from Palestinian preacher Mahmoud al-Hasanat on his social media, calling for God to “send Jewish people a dark day.”

Atal hearing scheduled for 18th December

The post came amidst the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict. He quickly deleted the post and then took to social media the following day to apologise for sharing the post. However, upon his return from international duty, he was suspended by OGCN and then by the LFP. The latter handed the right-back a seven-game ban, preventing him from playing before the winter break.

He is also under investigation from the Nice Public Prosecutor and earlier this month, he was taken into custody on charges of “provoking religion-based racial hatred.” He was released after one night but forced to pay an €80,000 bail. Atal is also prevented from leaving France for non-footballing activities. The player’s hearing will take place on 18th December.

No clubs have shown an interest in signing Atal

However, regardless of the outcome of that hearing, Atal will not play for OGC Nice again, according to Nice-Matin. The Ligue 1 club are looking to sell the player during the January transfer window with the club’s hierarchy, and INEOS in particular, unhappy to find themselves at the heart of the controversy.

Nice don’t want to miss out on securing a fee for the player, and with Atal’s contract expiring at the end of the season, a departure would suit all parties. However, no clubs are yet to express an interest in the Algerian international defender.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle