Lens Manager Franck Haise shared on Wednesday how the club handles the off-field stances of its players regarding the Israel-Gaza conflict and terrorist attacks in Europe. In a press conference attended to by RMC Sport, the northern club’s coach prefers an approach focused on education over strict sanctions.
Addressing the media on Wednesday, Franck Haise clarified RC Lens’s position on these issues, stating, “First, we are all aware of the situation, so I won’t dwell on it. Regarding this issue, I believe in authenticity. Authenticity means being able to express oneself. I also know that the words of players and coaches are closely examined. Whether that’s an excellent thing or not is another debate.”
“Afterwards… I’d say that rather than expecting players to always be exemplary, even if it means banning certain things, we prefer to take the step of responsibility,” Franck Haise went on to say. “And to teach as much as possible so that the players become responsible or are responsible for their words.”
Meanwhile, OGC Nice has suspended Youcef Atal indefinitely following the launch of a preliminary investigation against him for “apology for terrorism” and “public incitement to hatred or violence based on a specific religion.” The Algerian defender for OGC Nice is under scrutiny for sharing (and later deleting) a video calling for a “black day for the Jews” during the Israel-Hamas conflict. This incident underscores the challenges faced by Ligue 1 clubs in managing their players’ social media communication.
Lens are currently 14th in the Ligue 1 standings after a challenging start to the season. They aim to secure their fourth consecutive match without a defeat as they face Le Havre this Friday in the ninth round of fixtures. The match will commence with a minute of silence to honor the victims of the attacks in Arras, Brussels, and the Israel-Gaza conflict.
GFFN | George Boxall
