PQ leader accepts apology from fired Montreal soccer coach over offensive comments | 24CA News

The chief of the Parti Québécois has formally accepted an apology from Sandro Grande, a soccer coach who was lately fired from CF Montreal over his social media feedback suggesting a former Quebec premier ought to have been assassinated.

Paul St-Pierre Plamondon posted a press release on his Facebook web page Sunday, a number of days after Grande publicly admitted and apologized for his offensive remarks concerning the 2012 election evening capturing.

“I found in Sandro Grande a man sincere in his apologies,” St-Pierre Plamondon wrote. “And I was able to discuss the situation with his family, who obviously experienced a very difficult situation over the past few weeks.”

CF Montreal employed Grande, a former skilled soccer participant, because the coach of its reserve squad earlier this month. His appointment led to widespread condemnation from Quebec’s political sphere and he was promptly fired by the Major League Soccer membership.

Both Grande and the crew administration got here underneath fireplace for his years-old social media feedback concerning the deadly capturing at Metropolis in downtown Montreal. Premier elect and Parti Québécois chief Pauline Marois was delivering her victory speech when a gunman opened fireplace, killing one individual and significantly injuring one other in September 2012.

In wake of the assault, Grande notably wrote on Twitter that the one mistake the shooter made was lacking his goal — in reference to Marois.

After he was fired in early January, a tearful Grande publicly apologized final week. He mentioned he was ashamed of the feedback he made, admitting he had beforehand denied having written them.

Grande mentioned he was taking full accountability for his actions and that he obtained a touching response from Marois after he despatched her an apologetic letter.

St-Pierre Plamondon mentioned that when he met with Grande and his household over the weekend, they spoke for almost an hour.

“As I mentioned in my first speech regarding the appointment of Mr. Grande by CF Montreal, our objective at the Parti Québécois is not to ‘cancel’ an individual, nor to punish or get revenge, but to ensure that we live in a respectful and democratic society, where each person feels safe, regardless of the ideas they defend,” St-Pierre Plamondon wrote.

The chief of the PQ added that consistent with Marois’ want to not see the previous soccer participant be “ostracized,” he felt snug accepting Grande’s apology on behalf of the social gathering and its sovereignty motion. By doing so, St-Pierre Plamondon mentioned Grande might be to “turn the page” and contribute positively to Quebec society sooner or later — together with educating soccer to younger athletes.

“We also agreed that, once the dust settles, we will do joint activities on the themes of preventing hatred and promoting respectful and humane democratic dialogue,” St-Pierre Plamondon mentioned.

— with recordsdata from Global News’ Felicia Parrillo and The Canadian Press

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CF Montreal fires coach over previous feedback on Quebec election evening capturing

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