CHATEAUROUX, France — Cris, the former center back for Brazil who is currently the head coach of third-division French club La Berrichonne de Châteauroux, has expressed remorse for the inappropriate comments he made during a recent motivational speech to his players.
The club released a statement on Wednesday clarifying that while they regret Cris’ choice of words used in a private setting, they continue to support him, emphasizing that his remarks do not represent his personal or professional values.
On Friday, Châteauroux, which is struggling at the bottom of the league, achieved a crucial 2-1 victory against Quevilly-Rouen. Subsequently, a video of Cris’ locker room address drew significant attention on social media.
In the footage, Cris attempts to inspire his team by making a controversial analogy comparing their competitive mindset to men seeking romantic encounters at nightclubs. He stated, “When you go to a club, you meet a girl, you look at her and you want to (expletive) her.” He further emphasized, “That’s how it is today. We need to look at them in the face to (expletive) them.” His speech included additional crude language and phrases associated with masculine vigor to motivate his players.
Acknowledging the backlash, the club reported that Cris has apologized for his “clumsy” remarks and shared a statement from him. “I recognize that my comments were inappropriate,” he stated. “I aimed to motivate my players, but I now understand that the manner in which I expressed myself was unsuitable and does not embody the respect I advocate.”
The club also expressed disappointment that the video released by their communications team did not undergo proper scrutiny and apologized for any offense it may have caused.
Nonetheless, they affirmed that Cris has consistently demonstrated respect for the club, its athletes, and its fans. La Berrichonne de Châteauroux, along with its chairman Benjamin Gufflet, reiterated their commitment to upholding respect for everyone, emphasizing the importance of respect for women.
