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Bordeaux ultras leader handed fine for calling Laurent Koscielny a “fascist”

L’Équipe report this afternoon that Florian Brunet, the leader of the Ultramarines – Bordeaux’s main supporters’ group – has been found guilty of public insult today, and sentenced to pay a fine and damages to Laurent Koscielny.

Brunet had called the former French international a “shitty little fascist” during a confrontation with Benoît Costil at half-time during last season’s defeat to nine-man Montpellier, back in March. L’Équipe indicate that the fan group leader believed Koscielny and Costil had exhibited racist behaviour – however, Koscielny’s lawyer provided 20 testimonies from the defender’s former teammates denying any such remarks or actions. 

The ex-French international had filed a legal complaint, and Brunet has now been fined €1,500 for public insult and made to pay €5,000 in damages. Koscielny will donate the sum to charity. A month after the confrontation in April 2022, Brunet had pointed out that he regretted the use of the word “fascist” as he “did not have the proof to authenticate it”.

The former Arsenal defender had joined Bordeaux in 2019, but was sidelined midway through last year’s disastrous campaign – with Les Girondins finishing rock bottom and eventually narrowly avoiding dropping out of professional football altogether from administrative relegation. Koscielny’s contract was terminated in January of 2022 following a mutual agreement, and he has since retired from playing.

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