A fresh legal request has placed Éric Olhats, once a formative figure in Antoine Griezmann’s early career, back at the centre of a grave case in French football. Colette Capdevielle, a Socialist deputy for Pyrénées-Atlantiques, has asked prosecutors in Bayonne to open an additional investigation over suspicions of chemical submission.
The move
Capdevielle wrote to the Bayonne public prosecutor on Friday seeking a new inquiry concerning Olhats, who is currently being held in connection with alleged sexual assaults against minors.
Her request was made under Article 40 of the French Criminal Procedure Code. The provision requires public authorities and officials who learn of a possible crime or offence while performing their duties to alert prosecutors without delay.
The deputy said material contained in Dans la gueule du Loup, an investigation into child sexual abuse in football by journalists Thomas Rabino and Fabien Touati, raised several issues that could potentially require a separate criminal classification, whether as an offence or a crime.
The request does not amount to a finding of guilt and concerns the opening of a possible further investigation.
The French season around it
Olhats is widely known in French football for his role as Antoine Griezmann’s former mentor. He also coached Capdevielle’s son at Aviron Bayonnais, the Bayonne club where the deputy’s family connection to the case began.
- Éric Olhats – former mentor of Antoine Griezmann, currently detained in the existing case involving alleged sexual assaults on minors.
- Antoine Griezmann – France international whose early career was guided by Olhats.
- Colette Capdevielle – Socialist deputy for Pyrénées-Atlantiques who has requested a new investigation.
