The fans who invaded Nice-Marseille risk 3 years in jail

The fans who they invaded the meeting garter belt this sunday between Nice and Olympique de Marseille risk a prison sentence of up to three years and a fine of 45,000 euros, reported this Monday the French Prosecutor's Office.

The Nice Prosecutor's Office (southeastern France) detailed in a statement that they have opened investigations that have resulted in multiple charges against the suspects having thrown objects at the Marseille players and then invaded the pitch of the Allianz Arena in Nice.

The Prosecutor's Office detailed the charges for “entering a playing field preventing the normal functioning of a sports competition, throwing objects that presented a safety hazard, use of stadium furniture as a projectile, serious degradation and aggravated voluntary violence during a sports tournament”.

If these charges are proven in court, the suspects may incur a maximum prison sentence of three years, a fine of 45,000 euros and a ban on entering a sports field for five years.

The open investigations were entrusted to the departmental security services of the Alpes-Maritimes prefecture, which use video footage to identify perpetrators and debug incidents responsibilities between the fans of both teams, as well as the eventual responsibility of the players and the coaching staff of the two clubs.

The episode has shocked France, whose Minister of Sports, Roxana Maracineanu, warned that “a red line has been crossed” for which there will have to be penalties.

The Professional Football League has also started its own investigation, which has summoned Olympique de Marseille and OGZ Nice to the meeting of the Disciplinary Commission that next Wednesday will analyze the incidents, which in a statement qualifies as “serious.”

Several ultras supporters from the south stand of the Nice stadium plastic bottles were thrown at OM players until one of them hit French international Dimitri Payet, who sent it back to the stands.

From there, numerous local fans jumped to the field of strength, despite the efforts of security personnel to contain them, with the intention of attacking the Marseille players.

Players and staff from both teams were involved in the fray and the match was called off for more than an hour. The score at that time was 1-0 in favor of Nice.

The LFP decided that the match should be resumed, but the OM players, backed by their president, the Spanish Pablo Longoria, decided not to return as they considered that their safety was not guaranteed.

“Our safety was simply not guaranteed … We are very shocked by what happened. For us, it was unacceptable for the fans to enter the pitch like this, “Marseille captain Steve Mandanda said in a statement released Monday by the club.

In principle, the LFP should declare Marseille the loser of the match for having refused to continue.

The French League explains why it supported the resumption of Nice-Marseille

In the midst of a cross of accusations between the addresses of Nice and Olympique de Marseille, the French Football League (LFP) clarified this Monday that it supported the resumption of the controversial league match between both clubs due to the approval given by the Government delegation French.

“The decision to resume the meeting was made, within the open crisis cell, by the Prefect (government delegate) of the Alpes-Maritimes to guarantee public order and safety for the 32,000 spectators present in the stadium. The LFP supported this government decision, as it always does “said the agency.

The French League has summoned both clubs to the meeting of the Disciplinary Committee next Wednesday, August 25, in which they will study the “serious incidents” that have occurred.

“The LFP firmly condemns the violence that occurred during the match between Nice and Olympique de Marseille”said the League, in the second statement issued on the incidents.

At the same time, the French Public Prosecutor's Office ordered an investigation into the invasion. The fans involved risk a penalty of imprisonment for up to three years and a fine of 45,000 euros.

The episode has shocked France, whose Sports Minister, Roxana Maracineanu, warned that “a red line has been crossed” for which there will have to be sanctions.

Plastic bottles were thrown at OM players by several ultras from the South Grandstand of the Nice stadium until one of them hit French international Dimitri Payet, who sent it back to the stands.

From there, numerous local fans jumped into the field of force, despite the efforts of security personnel to contain them, with the intention of attacking the Marseille players.

Players and staff from both teams were involved in the fray and the match was suspended for more than an hour.