Lyon striker Milan Baros has maintained his innocence following claims he abused Rennes defender Stephane M'Bia with a racist gesture during a Ligue 1 match.
The Czech Republic star was seen pinching his nose and waving his hand in the direction of M'Bia as if to waft away a smell, after the pair clashed during Wednesday's game at the Stade Gerland.
The French league's disciplinary commission will meet next Thursday to look into the incident after they received a letter of complaint from Rennes president Frederic de Saint-Sernin.
However, Baros claims he did not utter a racist word to M'Bia.
"We had several verbal exchanges during the match, some a little strong as happens in any match, but not in a racist character," he told a press conference on Friday.
"If he is honest, he would confirm that. I did not say a racist word to him.
"People are making a big story out of nothing at all.
"I maintain I am not racist. I respect everyone. I have played for five years in England and half a season at Lyon with coloured players.
"I am not racist and everyone will tell you it."
The former Liverpool and Aston Villa player added: "I have not said sorry because if I did, that would suggest I am guilty.
"If the Rennes player had been white, people would not have made a story out of this."
Both Baros and M'Bia may be summoned by the commission to explain what happened.
"The affair will be looked into next Thursday, but the commission has ears and has already assembled all the documents," said Jacques Riolacci, the president of the disciplinary commission.
Lyon released a statement on Thursday, which read: "Milan Baros regrets and deplores the interpretation which could be made of the gesture against Stephane M'Bia, because he had no intention of expressing the slightest racist sentiment.
"Milan Baros simply wanted to tell him something he didn't know how to say in French: 'Leave me alone and give me some space'."
Saint-Sernin admits being disturbed by the incident after watching it on tape.
He said: "On my part, as president of Rennes, I have been shocked by what I saw. I therefore wished to get the league involved.
"I wrote to the president of the league to make known my feelings and those of Rennes. The images are harsh, brutal.
"I consider that the gesture can be taken seriously.
"We can't let images such as these pass, as a month ago, we signed a convention against racism.
"We must set an example, the players must set an example."
M'Bia told Friday's edition of French daily L'Equipe that he was "hurt" by Baros' gesture and admitted he could have taken the law into his own hands if the incident had not happened during a football game.
"I am always very calm," he said. "I prefer to stay calm.
"But if I hadn't have been in the match, and been really concentrating, I think I could have punched him or headbutted him. I could have also left the pitch. But that wouldn't have done anything. I am not afraid of anybody.
"Frankly, would he have had the same attitude up against a white person?
"That is the question I am asking myself. It is for the league to rule."
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WTF? Are you implying that only people of a certain race can smell? 
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