A fan of Nantes football club was reportedly killed during a riot before the club’s 1-0 victory over Nice in the latest outburst of violence in French football.
Prosecutors revealed that the fan suffered a back injury during the conflict after Nantes hoodlum attacked buses transporting visiting Nice fans to the Beaujoire stadium.
According to a report, the supporter was a member of the Brigade Loire, Nantes’ main group of diehard fans. The eight-time French Ligue 1 champions validated that police have begun an investigation into what has been described as an improvised murder.
Nantes public prosecutor Renaud Gaudeul announced that the incident took place shortly before 8 pm local time when numerous private hire cars carrying Nice supporters were on their way to the game.
The prosecutor said; "The very first forensic investigations show that the victim had a wound on his back, possibly caused by a bladed weapon".
France outlet, Ouest, reported that the suspected attacker initially fled the scene before turning himself in at a police station.
Gaudeul explained on Sunday, December 3 that a VTC (French taxi company) driver appeared at the Nantes police station and was taken into detention on charges including voluntary murder, adding that the suspect was a 35-year-old man.
French sports minister Amelie Oudea-Castera indicated her great sadness in a message posted on X (Formerly Twitter). She wrote; "My thoughts are with his family, his loved ones, and his friends in the stands".
FC Nantes head coach Jocelyn Gourvennec, who was appointed in November, said he only found out about the supporter’s death after the game against Nice.
He said; "I can’t imagine how you can go to a football match, sometimes with your family, and be between life and death after a match".
He added. "It’s inconceivable. The players talked about it a lot in the dressing room, they were very touched".
French Ligue 1 has seen an accumulation of violence in stadiums over the past two seasons.
According to Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, more than 100 police officers were injured in football-related incidents last season.
In October 2023, in Montpellier, a game was halted in added time after supporters threw a firework from the stands that landed next to Clermont shoot-stopper Mory Diaw.
The Senegal International player had to be taken off on a stretcher but was not wildly wounded.
Weeks later in Marseille, a bus carrying Lyon players was stoned by supporters outside the Velodrome stadium.
The windows were broken and then Lyon head coach Fabio Grosso was left with his face covered in blood, an injury that needed stitches.
What's next?
It remains to be seen if the French Football Authority will interfere in the recent incident in other to put a stop to the act of violence in the league.
Prosecutors revealed that the fan suffered a back injury during the conflict after Nantes hoodlum attacked buses transporting visiting Nice fans to the Beaujoire stadium.
According to a report, the supporter was a member of the Brigade Loire, Nantes’ main group of diehard fans. The eight-time French Ligue 1 champions validated that police have begun an investigation into what has been described as an improvised murder.
Nantes public prosecutor Renaud Gaudeul announced that the incident took place shortly before 8 pm local time when numerous private hire cars carrying Nice supporters were on their way to the game.
The prosecutor said; "The very first forensic investigations show that the victim had a wound on his back, possibly caused by a bladed weapon".
France outlet, Ouest, reported that the suspected attacker initially fled the scene before turning himself in at a police station.
Gaudeul explained on Sunday, December 3 that a VTC (French taxi company) driver appeared at the Nantes police station and was taken into detention on charges including voluntary murder, adding that the suspect was a 35-year-old man.
French sports minister Amelie Oudea-Castera indicated her great sadness in a message posted on X (Formerly Twitter). She wrote; "My thoughts are with his family, his loved ones, and his friends in the stands".
FC Nantes head coach Jocelyn Gourvennec, who was appointed in November, said he only found out about the supporter’s death after the game against Nice.
He said; "I can’t imagine how you can go to a football match, sometimes with your family, and be between life and death after a match".
He added. "It’s inconceivable. The players talked about it a lot in the dressing room, they were very touched".
French Ligue 1 has seen an accumulation of violence in stadiums over the past two seasons.
According to Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, more than 100 police officers were injured in football-related incidents last season.
In October 2023, in Montpellier, a game was halted in added time after supporters threw a firework from the stands that landed next to Clermont shoot-stopper Mory Diaw.
The Senegal International player had to be taken off on a stretcher but was not wildly wounded.
Weeks later in Marseille, a bus carrying Lyon players was stoned by supporters outside the Velodrome stadium.
The windows were broken and then Lyon head coach Fabio Grosso was left with his face covered in blood, an injury that needed stitches.
What's next?
It remains to be seen if the French Football Authority will interfere in the recent incident in other to put a stop to the act of violence in the league.
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