Johan Gastien (Clermont): “The worst experience of my career”

In an interview with SoFootthe midfielder of Clermont Foot, Johan Gastien looks back on his altercation, on October 23 with Islam Slimani, during Clermont Brest. The Algerian international striker had accused him of racismensuring that Gastien had called him “dirty arab”then “dirty bastard”changing his version of the facts. “I’m not going to hide from you that it was the worst experience of my career, says Gastien. There was a very important media fallout, a lot of threats towards my family and my relatives, my teammates… It was very hard. »

The Clermont environment called on the club’s psychologist to get through this ordeal and was finally cleared by the LFP Disciplinary Committee which closed this filein the absence of conclusive evidence. “During this time, it feels like we are in police custody, continues Gastien. JI didn’t want to go back to the stadium or play football again, I was afraid of the eyes of others on the pitch. The following match, in Nantes, I had a huge apprehension. It’s a life experience I wouldn’t wish on anyone. »