Quebec premier slams controversial coaching hire by CF Montréal soccer club
CBC
Quebec Premier François Legault and other politicians are denouncing CF Montréal soccer club's decision to hire Sandro Grande as the new head coach of its reserve team — a former player with a history of anti-sovereignist comments who appeared to encourage an attempted assassination of former premier Pauline Marois in 2012.
"Mr. Grande has made unacceptable and hurtful comments in the past," a Tuesday statement from Legault's office said.
"His appointment is disrespectful and sends the wrong message. This is a major lack of judgment on the part of CF Montréal."
Parti Québécois Leader St-Pierre Plamondon also took to Twitter Monday night to condemn Grande's hiring.
In the wake of the Sept. 4, 2012, shooting at the PQ's victory party at Montreal's Metropolis Theatre, Grande's Twitter account read: "The only mistake the shooter made last night was missing his target! Marois!!! Next time, buddy! I hope!"
The shooting left one person dead and another injured.
Grande has maintained that his account was hacked, according to La Presse. The former Montreal Impact player did, however, admit to calling separatist voters "hillbillies," adding that they were "so stupid it's unimaginable."
Grande's statements came three years after the Montreal Impact released him for having grabbed teammate Mauro Biello by the throat during practice in 2009.
In a statement released by the team Monday, Grande issued an apology and admitted to having made errors in the past.
"I am very grateful and happy to have the opportunity to return to the club I have loved since I was a child," Grande said.
"I made some serious mistakes several years ago and I am deeply sorry if I disrespected anyone. I have learned a great deal from them and know that I am joining an organization where the values of inclusion and diversity are fundamental. I think it's important to use our personal experiences to continually improve and correct our past mistakes."
St-Pierre Plamondon said he read Grande's apology but that it was "insufficient and failed to mention the group it targeted (sovereignists) or the person he wanted to see killed (P. Marois)."
He said Grande "did not make a single trivial mistake or one tweet too many one night, he repeatedly made filthy and criminal remarks aimed at more than two million pro-independent Quebecers."
Isabelle Charest, Quebec's sports minister, said in a statement the decision to hire Grande lacked judgment.
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