Coach Christophe Galtier of Paris Saint-Germain stated on Friday that he was "deeply shocked" by claims that he made racist comments about players when serving as the Ligue 1 club Nice's head coach the previous year.

“I am deeply shocked by the remarks attributed to me and which have been relayed by some in an irresponsible way, which hurt me deeply,” Galtier said at a press conference.

Following charges that arose in an email allegedly sent by the former Nice sporting director Julien Fournier and that were reported by various French media, the 56-year-old has denied uttering racist and Islamophobic remarks.

According to reports, Fournier sent the message—which AFP has not been able to confirm—to Dave Brailsford, the former head of British Cycling and current director of sport for the multinational chemical company Ineos, which owns Nice.

“I was brought up on a state housing estate and in a multicultural environment with shared values and respect for other people, whatever their origins, colour or religion,” Galtier added.

“I cannot accept having my name tarnished in this way. I have therefore decided to take legal action against anyone who tries to damage my reputation.”

In Nice, a city in southern France, the public prosecutor had just made the announcement that a preliminary inquiry had been launched into potential "racial or religious discrimination" when Galtier made his remarks.

Police searches were being conducted at the club's offices, Nice prosecutor Xavier Bonhomme said AFP.

Since the reports were made public, Galtier has received threats and is now under PSG's security.

“The club supports Christophe Galtier in the face of the many and unacceptable threats he has received, and now hopes that this matter will be dealt with by the courts,” the Qatar-owned club said in a statement to reporters on Friday.

Galtier spent a year at Nice before going to Paris at the end of the previous season. Galtier won the Ligue 1 championship with Lille in 2021.

Collectif Ultras Paris, the largest organization of PSG supporters, has declared that his continued leadership would "not be acceptable" if the accusations are shown to be accurate.

Galtier was already facing mounting criticism as a result of PSG's deteriorating performance since they were eliminated by Bayern Munich in the Champions League's round of 16 last month.

They host second-placed Lens on Saturday while leading Ligue 1 by six points at the moment.