The violence of the fans in the stands caused the delay of the UEFA Europa Conference League match between OGC Nice and FC Köln.
Images inside the Allianz Riviera stadium showed agitated scenes. The opposing fans fought each other and fired flares back and forth. Also, a fan was pushed from the stands, all before the game started.
Initial reports suggest that at least 18 people were injured. One of them is an ‘absolute emergency’. The match organizers made the decision to delay the game over the stadium intercom.
Violent clashes at the Allianz Riviera before Nice-Cologne: a fan fell from a stand, follow our direct https://t.co/XYMPRHKvbO pic.twitter.com/pRrJr5zXnx
— Nice-Matin (@Nice_Matin) September 8, 2022
Fan violence between Köln and OGC Nice
The official Twitter account of the German club issued a statement condemning the actions of the fans.
A video from the Köln away winger shows hooligans entering the section, with one fan wearing what appears to be a Borussia Dortmund balaclava.
In addition, Köln captain Jonas Hector took the microphone inside the stadium. He pleaded with fans of his team to stop the violence.
“We really want to play with you,” said the German international. “We also want the game to happen. But, we have to say that we do not approve of this. We don’t like to see it at all.”
“We worked hard in this last year and in the playoff games. And we’d love to do that with you and that’s why I’m asking you: keep your nerves, stay calm, support us as best you can.”
“That is what the club wants too. May we be together and in peace, let us only celebrate football and not violence. Thank you.”
The match finally got underway in France after the delay. OGC Nice returned to a European tournament after missing out last season. Köln, on the other hand, played their first UEFA match since a disappointing third-place finish in the 2017/18 Europa League group stage.
Ultimately, the match between OGC Nice and Köln ended in a 1-1 draw.
PHOTO: IMAGO / Panoramic
