Newcastle United latest news: Ligue 1 side RC Lens have released a statement after ‘hateful remarks’ were directed towards Allan Saint-Maximin on social media.
RC Lens have issued an official statement confirming they were forced to turn off comments on their social media platforms following ‘hateful remarks’ targeting Allan Saint-Maximin.
Saint-Maximin joined Lens on deadline day having departed Mexican side Club America. The move back to Ligue 1 marks the first time that Saint-Maximin has returned to France since he left Nice back in 2019 to join Newcastle United.
Saint-Maximin had been less than six months into a two-year deal with Club America before announcing his departure from the club on Saturday. Saint-Maximin revealed on Instagram that his premature departure from Mexico came after racist incidents involving himself and his children.
The winger wrote on an Instagram story: ‘The problem is not skin colour, it’s the colour of people’s thoughts. People attack me, but that’s not a problem. I’ve grown up and learned to fight back against attacks, whether they’re subtle, hidden or direct. But there’s one thing I will never tolerate, and that’s people attacking my children.’
Club America then issues a statement in support of the winger. That read: ‘We reiterate our strong condemnation of any act of discrimination and/or violence that violates human dignity, both on and off the pitch. We express our absolute solidarity with Allan Saint-Maximin and his family, who have the support of everyone who is part of this institution.’
RC Lens release Allan Saint-Maximin statement
Saint-Maximin was announced as an RC Lens player on Monday, however, within just hours his new club issued a statement against a ‘flood of hateful remarks and racist insults’ targeting the 28-year-old.
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‘Racing Club de Lens Statement: Support for Allan Saint-Maximin. Racing Club de Lens is outraged and condemns in the strongest possible terms the flood of hateful remarks and racist insults targeting its new player, Allan Saint-Maximin, on social media.
‘Out of a sense of responsibility, the club has been forced to close the comments section on some of its publications and will continue to take all necessary measures to ensure its social media platforms remain healthy and respectful spaces for expression. As a civic-minded and committed club, Racing reaffirms its commitment to the values of respect and tolerance, and stands alongside Allan and his loved ones, offering them its full and unwavering support.’
Saint-Maximin responded to that statement by writing on X: ‘Thank you to @RCLens and thank you all for your support’.
Lens will be Saint-Maximin’s fourth club since leaving Newcastle United in July 2023 for Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli. The maverick winger would spend just one full season in Saudi Arabia, playing 31 times in all, before moving to Turkey to join Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.
Once again, though, Saint-Maximin would make 31 appearances during his only season at the Turkish Super League club before moving to Club America last summer. Saint-Maximin previously to these moves had found a home at Newcastle United, spending four years on Tyneside.
During that time under Steve Bruce and Eddie Howe, Saint-Maximin racked up 124 appearances in all competitions with a return of 13 goals and 21 assists in that time.
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