- Former MLS player called Quebec separatists ‘hillbillies’
- Club said they wanted to give Sandro Grande a second chance
Sandro Grande was fired as coach of Montreal’s under-23 team on Tuesday – a day after his hiring was announced – because of comments he made following a 2012 shooting at an election event attended by Pauline Marois, the then leader of the separatist Parti Québécois.
The 2012 post on Grande’s Twitter account said: “The only mistake the shooter made last night was to miss his target!!! Marois!!! Next time buddy! Hopefully!” While Grande claimed his account had been hacked, the former Montreal Impact midfielder did admit to calling separatist voters “hillbillies” and “stupid.”