Angers condemn Bouhazama´s ´clumsy´ comments as Ligue 1 strugglers part ways with coach

Ligue 1 strugglers Angers have parted company with coach Abdel Bouhazama after he seemingly downplayed the seriousness of sexual assault.

Angers are languishing at the bottom of Ligue 1, having taken just 10 points from 26 games this season.

They are 10 points from safety and have failed to win a top-flight game since September, losing 16 of their 18 games since then.

While Angers stated Bouhazama had left due to the poor results, he also departs under the shadow of damning comments made during a pre-match team talk ahead of Sunday’s 5-0 defeat to Montpellier.

Bouhazama is said to have told his players “It’s not that serious, we have all touched girls”, as he aimed to justify Ilyes Chetti’s inclusion in his starting XI.

Chetti has been charged with the sexual assault of a woman in a nightclub last year. He will appear in court in April.