The Algerian defender apologized for publishing the video. French authorities ordered him to stand trial in December.

French authorities said it was an Algerian soccer player Youcef Atal was arrested for questioning and faces trial for sharing a social media post that allegedly incited violence against Jews.

In a statement on Friday, prosecutors said police had detained Atal, who plays for French club Nice, on Thursday for questioning as part of an investigation into a possible “justification of terrorism” over the post.

He was released on Friday on bail of 80,000 euros ($87,500) and placed under judicial supervision pending trial. He is not allowed to leave France except for international games.

The 27-year-old soccer player was banned for seven games by the French soccer league for sharing a social media post last month in which a Palestinian preacher allegedly made anti-Semitic comments calling for violence against Jews.

Al Jazeera was unable to confirm the content of the post, but Atal quickly deleted it and apologized.

Nice authorities have launched an investigation into the matter and prosecutors have said that Atal, who has been suspended by his club “until further notice”, will stand trial on December 18 for possible incitement to religious hatred.

Atal said he would “never support a message of hate” and that he condemns violence “no matter where in the world,” but gave no explanation as to why he shared the video.

The Nice defender is one of several footballers who have been criticized or punished over social media posts escalating fights between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas, which has caused simmering tensions in communities around the world.

After the French football star Karim Benzema In a social media post about Israel’s attack on Gaza, which Palestinian authorities said killed more than 6,500 children, he criticized “unjust bombings that leave neither women nor children spared.” France’s Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin accused him – without evidence – of having ties to the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood group.

A French senator also called for Benzema to be stripped of previous football awards and French citizenship.

On Thursday, a council member of the Football Association (FA), English football’s governing body, resigned after comparing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.

“Recent events have robbed me of energy and hope. I was blown away by how this turned out,” Wasim Haq said in a resignation letter posted on social media, in which he said he had intended to criticize a politician and not the Jewish people more broadly.

“As someone who has worked closely with many Jewish people over the years and formed meaningful and valuable friendships, the most painful part of this process is knowing that some of these friends and colleagues have caused me the misunderstandings and hurt that I have unintentionally caused. may not forgive.” .”

Dutch footballer Anwar El Ghazi was also expelled from the German soccer team Mainz 05 after posting social media posts in support of Palestine, despite reiterating his opposition to anti-Semitism and violence against civilians.

El Ghazi has taken legal action against the club over his dismissal.