The incidents which took place on the evening of Sunday, November 30, in front of the training center of the OGC Nice football club led to legal action. The Nice prosecutor’s office announced on Tuesday, December 2, the opening of an investigation into aggravated violence after complaints against X by two players from the Nice club, Terem Moffi and Jérémie Boga.
Early Tuesday evening, OGC Nice also announced that it was going to file a complaint against X. “The club, in agreement with its owner Ineos, files a complaint against X”informed the Riviera club in a message sent to Agence France-Presse.
Nearly 400 ultra supporters came to express their anger on Sunday evening to the players and managers after their team’s defeat in Lorient (3-1). They particularly attacked the two attackers, who told their version to the police.
Terem Moffi and Jérémie Boga, identified by numerous witnesses even if the prosecution does not specify their names, told the police that when they arrived in front of the training center on their return from the airport, the team’s bus had been blocked by supporters “in a tense atmosphere”according to the prosecutor’s press release.
They had to get off the bus to walk, among angry ultras, the few dozen meters leading to the center and say they received “punching, kicking and spitting while being insulted”. Many of the supporters had their faces hidden, added the prosecution, specifying that the incidents had lasted a total of around forty minutes. In addition to the attackers Terem Moffi and Jérémie Boga, the sporting director, Florian Maurice, was also physically attacked on Sunday evening by vehement fans in front of the gate of the training center, according to witnesses.
Earlier in the day on Tuesday, the Professional Football League (LFP) announced that it “to constitute oneself[ait] civil party in complaints filed by players » Nice. The LFP thus intends “ fully support their approach and contribute to ensuring that all light is shed on these serious facts”she said in a press release.
The League “condemns with the greatest firmness acts of violence”. Ces “attacks, totally unacceptable, undermine the integrity of those involved in the game and the values of football”she added. Before concluding: “The LFP expresses its full support to the players concerned and to OGC Nice, and reaffirms its determination to guarantee the safety of all football stakeholders. »
“Serious incidents caused by a few individuals”
The Minister of Sports, Marina Ferrari, also, in a message sent to the Monde, mardi, “condemned with the greatest firmness [ces] unacceptable violence ». “Nothing can justify these acts which target those who commit to football every day”she declared, expressing ” All [s]we support » to “leaders and players” concerned. Marina Ferrari calls for « sanctions » : “These serious incidents, caused by a few individuals, are in no way related to fanism. I will always defend those who bring life and entertainment to our stadiums, never those who resort to violence and who must be punished for that. »
“This physical violence is intolerable”also reacted on Monday, the National Union of Professional Footballers (UNFP), the players’ union, saying it had “immediately made contact” with Terem Moffi and Jérémie Boga.
According to The Team and RMC, the two players have been on sick leave since Monday. Jérémie Boga is on ITT (temporary work interruption) until Friday, Terem Moffi is arrested until Sunday inclusive.
OGC Nice, whose reaction was delayed, finally released a press release on Monday evening – or twenty-four hours after the incidents –, for “condemn with the greatest firmness” of the “unacceptable excesses”. But the club nevertheless assured “understand frustration” of its supporters, generated by a “succession of poor performances and services far removed from its values”. A referring to the team’s six losses in a row, in all competitions, which forced the coach, Franck Haise, to revise his objectives downwards.
While the Azuréens were seen, at the start of the season, as potential candidates for European places, “it is for the maintenance that[ils vont] fighting is reality”assured Mr. Haise, Sunday, at the microphone of Ligue 1 +. OGC Nice is currently 10e in the French championship standings with 17 points, 14 lengths behind the leader, RC Lens.
