Melvyn Jaminet: French rugby player, suspended, leaves tour of Argentina after making racist comment in social media post
French rugby player Melvyn Jaminet was removed from the team's trip to Argentina after being disciplined for making a racist comment in a video he shared on his social media. He has since said sorry for his actions.
In a now-deleted post that has gone viral on social media, the young adult, aged 25, can be heard using a racially charged and aggressive language against individuals of Arab descent.
The French Rugby Federation (FFR) released a statement expressing strong disapproval of Jaminet's comments and stated that the full-back has been suspended from the Argentina tour.
The FFR announced that Melvyn Jaminet was quickly benched and has since departed from the French team that is currently in Argentina.
The FFR stated that the comments made were completely inappropriate and go against the core principles of our sport. They are currently conducting an internal investigation to fully understand the severity of the remarks and determine the necessary actions to be taken.
The French Rugby Federation (FFR) is dedicated to diversity, inclusion, and secularism. Rugby is a sport that fosters unity and we must uphold these important principles. Discrimination has no place in French rugby.
Jaminet, who was a substitute in France's 28-13 win against Argentina in Mendoza on Saturday, posted an apology on his Instagram story.
"I feel very regretful and embarrassed about what I said. I would like to say sorry to everyone. I realize that my words may have caused pain and upset to many individuals, and I want to emphasize that my comments do not represent my beliefs or the beliefs of the French Rugby team," he stated.
I do not support or condone any type of racism. The punishment from the FFR is justified and I am willing to cooperate with them to provide more information on the situation.
CNN has tried to contact Jaminet to get his response.
Jaminet represents Toulon in France at the club level. Toulon stated that they "strongly oppose" Jaminet's remarks and have distanced themselves from them in a message on X. The team also mentioned that they are looking into the issue with an investigation.
Jaminet has become a fixture in the French national team since he first played for them in 2021.
During the previous year's World Cup in France, Jaminet played in all four of the team's group matches and scored two tries. One of those tries came at a critical moment against New Zealand, marking his first ever score for the French national team.
Jaminet entered the match during the 72nd minute of France's game against Argentina at the Estadio Malvinas Argentinas on Saturday. He successfully scored a penalty in the 76th minute, leading his team to a 28-13 win. The French Rugby Federation (FFR) shared on their Instagram account that the team had traveled to Argentina at the end of June.
France's sports minister, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, supported the FFR's choice to suspend Jaminet, emphasizing the importance of taking a strict stance against racism.
