- The 25-year-old shared a post after France’s 28-13 win over Argentina on July 6.
- Eight weeks of ban can be replaced by actions that include visits to schools
- The full-back has made 20 appearances for the national team and won the Six Nations Championship.
French rugby star Melvyn Jaminet will spend six months on the sidelines after a video of the Toulon full-back making a racist comment went viral on social media.
The 25-year-old shared the clip on his Instagram account after kicking a penalty in France’s 28-13 win over Argentina on July 6.
“I promise, the first Arab I see on the road I will headbutt,” Jaminet said in the video during the French team’s tour of the South American country earlier this month.
The full-back apologised for the comments and deleted the post from his account, but it has since circulated widely online.
Jaminet now faces a 34-week ban, the French Rugby Federation (FFR) said on Friday after its disciplinary council found Jaminet had “undermined the best interests of rugby,” The Independent reports.
French rugby star Melvyn Jaminet will spend six months on the sidelines after a video of the Toulon full-back making a racist comment went viral
The 25-year-old shared the clip on his Instagram account after kicking a penalty in France’s 28-13 win over Argentina on Saturday.
The eight weeks can be replaced by certain actions, including visiting schools “to promote the values of sport related to the fight against discrimination” and social media and alcohol awareness.
The rugby star has also been fined €30,000 (£25,000) for his comments.
Jaminet previously apologised for the video, saying: ‘I understand that this may have hurt and offended many people, and I want to make it clear that these comments in no way reflect my values or those of the French rugby team.
‘Racism, in all its forms, is unacceptable and goes against everything I believe in.’
Earlier this month, the French Rugby Federation issued a statement condemning his comments and saying he had been removed from the tour of Argentina.
“These comments are totally unacceptable and contrary to the fundamental values of our sport,” the FFR said in a statement.
‘As a result, Melvyn Jaminet has been withdrawn from the France national team and is currently in Argentina.
‘An internal investigation is underway to clarify these comments, which are extremely serious, and appropriate measures will be taken.
“Rugby is a sport that unites and brings people together, and we must promote these essential values. No discriminatory behaviour of any kind has a place in French rugby.”
Jaminet has made 20 appearances for his national team, including a victory in the Six Nations Tournament.
Jaminet later apologized for the comment and insisted the words did not reflect her values in an Instagram post.
Toulon had already backed Jaminet after a disciplinary meeting with the club’s management and said they believed in the possibility of “redemption” for their star.
Jaminet has made 20 appearances for Les Bleus since making his senior international debut in 2021.
The Toulon star was part of the team that won France’s first Six Nations title in more than a decade in 2022.
