By the editorial staff
Published 18 minutes ago, Updated 4 minutes ago
Philippe Saint-André. Stephane Pillaud / Panoramic
The former Montpellier manager reacted to the death of young Thomas, who comes from the same village in Drôme.
Originally from Romans-sur-Isère, Philippe Saint-André, former winger and coach of the XV of France, reacted this Thursday on BFM TV to the tragic death of young Thomas, during a village ball in Crépol (Drôme). “Thomas was killed in a barbarity. Imagine, we are the parent of a 16-year-old child who goes to a village festival… I too went to this ball in Crépol, which is a quiet villagehe confided to our colleagues. You leave to dance, to laugh, perhaps for your first flirtation… and you don’t come home. It’s terrible.”
The former Montpellier manager, who will soon leave the Hérault club, adds: “I was born in this town (Romans-sur-Isère). It’s a lot of pain. I have many close friends who were in this white march (…) There are a lot of emotions because he is a child. A rugby kid too. I have had a lot of testimonies. Lots of friends told me that they had never gone out like that, to be behind this family. It is with great sadness today that I testify on behalf of the Romanians.”
More than 6,000 people marched on Wednesday in Romans-sur-Isère in a vibrant tribute to young Thomas. Wednesday evening, Emmanuel Macron denounced “the terrible assassination» from the 16 year old teenager, “an attack that marked us all». «We have to face more and more episodes of violence against you, elected representatives of the Republic, but also episodes of violence which have marked us all», noted the Head of State in a speech to mayors, invited to a reception at the Élysée.
