A 26-year-old Dijonnais was tried this Monday, September 4 in correctional for a case which had hit the headlines at the time: the monkey cries addressed to the player of Amiens Prince Gouano, during the match against Dijon in April 2019.
“This affair had absolutely maddening repercussions in the media, everyone was talking about it.“, recalls the prosecutor. At the time, it had led to reactions from the highest authorities, both from FIFA and from the minister of sports, Roxana Maracineanu. On April 12, 2019, the Ligue 1 Dijon-Amiens match was interrupted in the 77th minute: Amiens defender and captain Prince Gouano had just heard monkey cries behind him in the stands. Quickly, the supporter in question is identified: Adrien O., member of Lingon’s Boys.
Adrien O. appeared this Monday, September 4, 2023, more than four years after the facts, at the Dijon Criminal Court. After nearly three hours of debate, he was found guilty and sentenced to a two-year ban on entering a sports arena (including a stadium, therefore) as well as a fine of 1,000 euros. In addition, he will have to pay 2700 euros for the civil parties (LICRA, SOS Racisme and LFP) and a symbolic euro in damages to the Professional Football League. The DFCO and the MRAF, which had initially brought civil parties, withdrew.
This condemnation comes after a particularly long delay. The reason: a dismissal was first pronounced, then the prosecutor appealed and the investigating chamber reversed the dismissal order, referring the case to the criminal court on May 3.
Four years after the events, we are far from the media and political hype of the time. In the room of the correctional court, almost empty, it is the last judged case of the day. We rewind the facts: Adrien O, 22 years old in April 2019, was at the time an active member of Lingon’s Boys, an ultra club in Dijon.
Did Adrien O. yes or no utter monkey cries against Prince Gouano? This is the whole debate of the day. The versions of each differ: Prince Gouano formally identifies Adrien O. in the photos that the police show him. “But we don’t present him with upholstery!” is offended the defendant’s lawyer. The upholstering is the fact of presenting several photos to identify a suspect among other faces. In fact, the face of Adrien O. is the only one who was presented to Prince Gouano.
Also questioned: Thomas Montconduit, Amiens teammate of Prince Gouano. He confirms having heard the cries of the monkey, but admits to being unable to recognize Adrien O. when he is presented with an upholstery.
Another important testimony: that of Ludovic T., steward and regular at the DFCO, who says he saw Adrien O. utter monkey cries.
The material evidence is poor: there is only a video extract, taken in a wide shot from the field, where we actually see the ultras of the Lingon’s Boys behind the goal at the time of the Amiens corner. But, on the large screen of the court, one can only note that it is difficult to distinguish the precise gestures which each one makes, and also difficult to distinctly hear who shouts what.
“What happened that night?” asks the president.
– “There was some commotion, because Amiens had an action and as usual in team sport, we try to distract, boo, shout… to try to make the opponent lose a goal . Afterwards, it was a completely normal match for me, as I was able to do hundreds everywhere. I was a football fan back then. relate Adrien O.
“Was there a particular ideology, somewhat extremist ideas among the Lingon’s Boys?” asks the president. “No, the group has always accepted everyone. We like football, we like to meet up with friends, we like to move everywhere,” says Adrien O. “Do you understand that these cries can be assimilated to racist cries?” “Yes and no, it depends on people’s interpretation.”
A debate ensued on the cry itself. Did he go “Hou, hou, hou”, imitating a monkey, or “Aou, aou, aou”, “a cry imitating the Spartans“, as Adrien O. says? Another explanation is advanced: if he said “ou, hou, hou”, it was a diminutive of “Hooligan”, a “rallying cry” from the Lingon’s Boys, as certain ultras will explain in auditions.
“The “Hoo, hoo, hoo”, is that part of your songs? asks the president.
“Oui.”
“Aou, aou, aou, too?”
“That’s the Spartans.”
Difficult to draw conclusions. Adrien O. says he shouted “Aou, aou”, some ultras say they heard “Hou, hou” for “Hooligans”; anyway, the two cries would be common in all football stadiums… The debate quickly turns in circles. The lawyer for the Professional Football League, Maître Benjamin Peyrelevade, decides:
“I admit that I don’t understand the notion of “Hou, hou” or “Aou, aou”, which would be usual stadium songs. When the steward identifies you, he who is a regular on the pitch, who is there all weeks, his interpretation is: cries akin to monkey cries.”
Benjamin Peyrelevade
LFP lawyer
The lawyer of SOS Racisme, master Guillaume Traynard, engages: “What is a monkey cry? I asked the question to Mr. Adrien O. and he was unable to answer me. A monkey cry is to imitate the cry of a monkey by designating a person of color, to imitate a monkey. But everyone knows what a monkey cry is, except Mr. O.”
“Anyone who knows the world of football knows full well what it is, a monkey cry! The “hoo, hoo, hoo” in the stadiums, it’s monkey cries! When you say “hoo, hoo, hoo” looking at a black player, it’s a monkey cry and everyone knows it! He knows it, Prince Gouano knows it, the steward knows it.”
Guillaume Traynard
SOS Racisme lawyer
Guillaume Traynard recalls that at the time, the “scourge“Racism in football was already present. A few days earlier, the player of the France team Blaise Matuidi was also the victim of monkey cries, launched by many Italian ultras, in Cagliari. “And when 10 days later Adrien O. goes “Hou, hou, hou” while looking at a black player, is that unrelated? Monkey cries are the bane of football today.”
The defendant’s lawyer, Hirminia Garcia, is working to dismantle all the assertions of the civil parties. “Prince Gouano, the so-called victim. He is not filing a complaint, because he is not sure of himself!” She argues that the player was back and could not clearly see the supporters. And to go back to the debate on the cries themselves:
“How can you say that it’s not ‘Aou, aou, aou’ but ‘Hou, hou, hou’ and that ‘Hou, hou, hou’ must be monkey cries?”
hermina garcia
defendant’s lawyer
“No other player next door, in the Dijonnais, says he heard monkey cries. Why shouldn’t my client be believed?” questions the lawyer, recalling that her client “has friends of all nationalities”.
She asks for release, for the cries and for the other offense for which Adrien O. is accused: having entered the stadium in a state of intoxication. In fact, he confirms having drunk two pints of light beer before entering Gaston-Gérard, then two other pints once in the stands.
The prosecutor, he claims a fine of 2000 euros and a five-year ban on entering a sports venue (therefore at the stadium). As the court retired to deliberate, one of the lawyers said: “Such a case that would not have been publicized, he would be released…” But in fact, the case was publicized. Found guilty, Adrien O. has ten days to appeal.
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