Algeria's Atal signs for Turkish club after France conviction

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Algerian defender Youcef Atal has signed for Turkish club Adana Demirspor after receiving a suspended sentence in France last month for inciting religious hatred about the conflict in Gaza, his club Nice announced Friday.

10 months ago
"Six months from the end of his contract, Youcef Atal leaves OGC Nice for Turkey," Nice said in a statement. "The club wishes him good luck for the rest of his career."
The 27-year-old right-back was handed an eight-month suspended sentence by a court in the Riviera city last month. He shared a video to his Instagram account five days after Hamas' October 7 assault on Israel, showing a preacher, Mahmoud Al Hasanat, calling for a "black day for the Jews".
He was also fined 45,000 euros ($49,000). The player apologised after deleting the post and appealed the judgement.
He was suspended by his club and also suspended for seven matches by the LFP disciplinary committee, and has not reappeared for Nice since. Capped 29 times for Algeria, Atal participated in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.

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