Since August 31 and the publication of scandals hitherto hushed up by the management of the Salesian, tongues have been loosening at the club. Many members who were unaware of anything are demanding accountability from management. Some teams from this association based in the 17th arrondissement of Paris even demanded explanations last Sunday, threatening to boycott the matches.
The discussions bring up the sexual abuse of Christian C., former head of the football section, which was hidden for a long time, which contributed to delaying the procedure and participated in the prescription of numerous facts. But what occupies the debates are above all the most recent facts: the legal investigations against Lawrance P. and Mitch D., who were respectively excluded from the club in 2017 and 2020. Mitch D., suspected of harassment and sexual assault on a minor, then continued to practice in other clubs, but also in Parisian schools.
But the main question of the licensees is above all to know why the management keeps Morad K. and Jonathan G., responsible for the football section, when they received two years and one year of suspension, on July 7, by the disciplinary committee of the Football League, for “intimidation, act of brutality and harassment against a licensee or complicity in these acts”.
Conversely, far from being supported, Camille, 21, the victim of the two football managers, who played and coached at the club, was fired in the spring of 2023 by management, some time after her testimony against his hierarchical superiors.
The town hall threatens the association with sanctions
Faced with these revelations, the City of Paris took charge of the matter. The elected officials of the central town hall received the management of the club which has always “denied outright all the accusations against its two employees still in office”. Ubuesque, since following an internal investigation, in December 2022, this same management nevertheless suspended Morad K. and Jonathan G. for three days for these acts of harassment and physical aggression towards Camille.
“Given the extreme seriousness of the alleged facts, we therefore hope that justice will take up this matter and on the basis of article 40 (according to which any authority having knowledge of a crime or misdemeanor is required to report it to the courts), we have reported the facts to the prosecutor, announces Karim Ziady (PS), Paris councilor responsible for local sport. We are also launching an internal procedure entrusted to the General Inspectorate of the City. » This investigation will focus in particular on the finances but also the management of the Salesian.
Camille, a player and then manager at the Salésienne club in Paris, was allegedly the victim of physical attacks, harassment and threats from those in charge. LP/Olivier Arandel
“We have had requests from many parents and residents of the district who want clarification,” continues the elected official from the central town hall. And we will reserve the possibility of taking sanctions at the end of these investigations. » This could range from the reimbursement of subsidies already paid (15,000 euros this year) to the elimination of all subsidies, or even the end of the allocation of slots for the football section on municipal sports facilities, which would result in the closure of this discipline within the Salesian.
The elected officials had been alerted in vain
“Moreover, we are stunned to have never been made aware of these facts before last week’s press articles,” regrets Karim Ziady. However, the district town hall had been informed since February. »
Seeing the difficulties in being heard at the club, Camille had indeed alerted the elected officials of the sector. In vain. The management of the Salesian had maintained its position against Camille or Morad K. and Jonathan G. “But the mayor of the 17th century is undoubtedly a little embarrassed to act in the face of an association which has 4,000 members and, therefore , potentially, nearly 10,000 voters,” slips a political source.
Except that, for several days, Geoffroy Boulard (LR), the district mayor – whose local opponent is Karim Ziady – has also been very upset with the management of the club: “We did not have all the elements at hand. time and, taking into account the new elements of which we are now aware, we asked the president of the Salesian to take his responsibilities to restore the confidence of families as quickly as possible. We believe it is necessary to suspend the persons involved as a precautionary measure, at least until the procedures come to an end. »
“False allegations”, persists management
Contacted, the management of the Salesian does not seem to want to accede to this request. “We welcome with the greatest satisfaction the town hall’s decision to take legal action,” said Aymeric de Tilly, the president of the Salesian. The judicial investigation will make it possible to reestablish the truth in the face of the amalgamations and false allegations. We are already, every day, alongside our licensees in the field to answer all the legitimate questions and concerns they may have. We thank those who have given us their support and who know that our top priority is to guarantee the safety and well-being of our members. »
However, a rebellion is beginning to emerge. “But we cannot give too many divergent opinions, because all those who do not agree with management are ridiculed or pushed aside,” says a manager. “I’m considering starting a collective,” says a mother whose children are registered with the club. Too bad if my son suffers. But we can’t continue to be afraid to speak out. »
