St Eloi Lupopo Set To Appeal Eymael’s Racism Ban
DR Congo outfit FC St Eloi Lupopo is set to appeal the Congolese Football Federation imposed ban on former PSL coach Luc Eymael for alleged racist slurs he made in a league match against Blessing FC last month.
According to a statement released by Congo’s football governing body LINAFOOT, the Belgian mentor made insulting racist remarks against the opposing goalkeeper and the technical team, including match officials after Blessing FC supporters protested on his side’s second goal in the 87th minute.
As a result, Eymael has been slapped with a two-month suspension for insults accompanied by a fine of $200 and a six-month ban prohibiting him from any access to sports facilities for racist remarks along with a $2000 fine. Now, the Ligue 1 leaders, having enjoyed an impressive start to the 2024/25 season with six wins out of their first seven matches in the league, released a statement demanding a hearing as they are determined to have the decision overturned.
“Following the decision of the Linafoot management commission to suspend our head coach, Luc Eymael for six months after the incidents that occurred during the FC St Eloi Lupopo – Blessing FC match, while deploring that certain agencies have fomented biased and distorted reports on the said incidents involving Mr. Luc Eymael.
“The Football Club St Eloi Lupopo affirms that the person concerned will appeal this decision to shed full light and demand a hearing and a confrontation of all the persons involved, for the administration of good justice which recommends that for such an accusation, in the absence of evidence, that the accused be heard and be able to present his mean of defense.
“The Football Club St Eloi Lupopo, which will show him support in this process for reparation, firmly believes in the integrity of the members of the management commission who were surely deliberately, misled,” the club statement read.
Ironically, the former Polokwane City, Free State Stars, and Black Leopards coach finds himself in hot water for a similar accusation once again as he was sent packing by Tanzanian giants Young Africans in July 2020 for assumed racism against the club’s supporters.
Eymael, who was also a divisive figure during his time in the PSL, won the Nedbank Cup in the 2018 season when Ea Lia Koto defeated Maritzburg United in the final.
