It’s officially the end for Casoni in Orléans. The current 11th in National announced the termination of the contract of his coach, accused of racism. Targeted by a preliminary investigation for provoking hatred or racial discrimination and for public insults of a racist nature, opened by the Orléans public prosecutor’s office, the technician was suspended by his club on October 10.
“US Orléans informs of the early termination of the employment contract of Mr. Bernard Casoni,” the club made official in a laconic press release, without further details. The National club summoned its coach on October 25 for an interview prior to dismissal.
“Heinous and unacceptable” comments
France Bleu Orléans radio revealed the coach’s comments, made at a press conference, where he declared that his players were “no more stupid than North Africans”. Several players and members of the club had assured local radio that Bernard Casoni would have made other comments of the same nature on several occasions.
The former OM international defender and winner of the Champions League in 1993 apologized two days later on France Bleu Orléans, arguing that he was “anything but racist” but admitting to having made “remarks displaced”. At the same time, he filed a complaint against X for slanderous denunciation. The National Ethics Council (CNE), considering the comments made by the Orléans coach “odious and unacceptable”, also decided to refer the matter to the federation’s disciplinary committee.
