The prefect of France’s Rhône department has referred a case to prosecutors after alleged hate speech was detected in online videos filmed during celebrations following Algeria’s victory over Congo at the Africa Cup of Nations, authorities said.
Prefect Fabienne Buccio filed a formal report under Article 40 of the French Code of Criminal Procedure to the Lyon public prosecutor, citing potential incitement to hatred, according to French media reports confirmed by local authorities, according to French news outlet Le Figaro.
The referral concerns chants heard Tuesday night in Lyon’s Guillotière district, where Algerian supporters gathered to celebrate Algeria’s win over Congo in the tournament’s round of 16. Authorities say the chants included hostile remarks targeting “Moroccans” and “Jews.”
Several videos circulating on social media show groups of supporters carrying Algerian flags chanting in Arabic. French state services confirmed the content of the chants, a prefecture source told local media.
The report alleges incitement to hatred based on real or perceived ethnicity, nationality, race or religion.
It is the second such referral linked to celebrations around Algeria’s campaign at the tournament. Last week, Buccio filed a similar report following Algeria’s 1-0 victory over Burkina Faso in the group stage, which secured the team’s qualification.
During those celebrations, held on Dec. 28 in the same neighborhood, French-Algerian influencer Sofia Benlemmane was filmed chanting anti-France slogans. Benlemmane was convicted in April by a Lyon court and received a nine-month suspended prison sentence for making death threats against opponents of the Algerian regime.
On Tuesday, about 500 people gathered at Place Gabriel Péri to celebrate Algeria’s latest victory. While the atmosphere was initially peaceful, police later intervened to disperse the crowd after traffic and tramway services were blocked, authorities said.
Prosecutors have not yet announced whether a formal investigation has been opened.
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