It is a case which illustrates the funny manners of certain young footballers and the harmful power of social networks on their nascent careers. Thursday April 22, the disciplinary committee of the FFF (French Football Federation) will hear William Saliba (20 years old, Nice) and Ulrik Eneme Ella (19 years old, U23 from Brighton) for a pornographic video broadcast on social networks in last february. On it, we see the Nice defender on loan from Arsenal filming his face for a few minutes with his phone, before turning the lens of his camera towards his young fully naked partner, masturbating.
This sequence of a few seconds was quickly removed from the platforms but it had time to create a bad "buzz" which continues today the two footballers.
Indeed, the scene takes place in a room, in December 2017 or early 2018, during a gathering of the French U17 team then trained by Lionel Rouxel.
Moreover, Saliba and the two other players (Yann Gboho and Benoît Badiashile) who appear in the background of the video, wear the tracksuit of the France team adorned with a world champion star so before the coronation in Russia .
"Any behavior contrary to morality can give rise to prosecution"
More than three years later, it's hard to say how this obscene video ended up on the networks. The investigation carried out by the disciplinary committee of the FFF did not establish this. But, given the seriousness of the facts, the members of the disciplinary body decided to summon the two officials. The hearings will take place by videoconference and both Saliba and Eneme Ella risk sanctions. The Federation is based on its disciplinary regulations which provide that "any behavior contrary to morality, ethics or detrimental to the honor, image or consideration of the FFF, its Leagues or Districts, the Professional Football League, one of their leaders, a subject or a third party, or, more generally, French football… may give rise to the initiation of disciplinary proceedings ”.In the same way, the texts punish "the fact of committing reprehensible acts by the means of social networks or any other medium of communication".
For Saliba, a hope of French football, it can be problematic
It will also be necessary to determine whether, under the internal rules, Saliba had the right or not to have his mobile phone at this time of the day.
So many charges which weigh on the two young footballers and which could lead to an exclusion from the gatherings of the French teams for a long time.
For Eneme Ella, currently in the Brighton reserve team (Premier League) and never summoned to the U19 tricolor, this does not appear to be really harmful.
For Saliba, considered a hope for French football, this could prove to be more problematic, even if the defender has failed to win at Arsenal and has not appeared in the U20 selection since March 2019. Let us recall that ' in 2012, after going to a nightclub before a match for the France Espoirs team, Griezmann, Ben Yedder, Mavinga and Niang were suspended from selection until December 31, 2013. Considered to be the instigator of this night out, Mr. 'Vila had received a suspension of almost two years (until June 30, 2014). Since that date, the former Stéphanois has never reappeared in selection, he who was nevertheless promised a bright future in blue.
