Nice (AFP)

The Nice-Paris SG match will be played behind closed doors on Sunday at 1:00 p.m., as part of the 4th day of L1, "due to the strengthening of measures" in the face of the coronavirus pandemic, the Riviera club announced on Friday.

The gauge had been reduced from 5,000 to 1,000 spectators, and under these conditions, "OGC Nice regrets to inform its public that the match against Paris Saint-Germain will be played behind closed doors", writes the club in a communicated.

It is "a moral blow to the supporters", reacted the president of the Gym, Jean-Pierre Rivère.

His club, which had already played its match of the first day against Lens behind closed doors, had started to sell places.

The prefect of the Alpes-Maritimes, Bernard Gonzalez, announced Friday morning at a press conference that the major events organized around the city could not exceed a thousand spectators, because Nice is one of the cities where the health situation linked to the Covid-19 pandemic has worsened.

From 5,000 people to only 1,000, "once we deduct the whole organization, we practically reach this figure, summarizes Rivère. The match will be played without an audience. So we are sad. Football without a supporter is not the same thing".

The Nice leader also regretted having to make this decision "two days before the match", thinking of his supporters.

"Even if we have nothing to do with it, there is nothing worse than blowing hot and cold like that. We are sincerely sorry. But unfortunately we have no choice," he said. he concludes.

The prefect explained that he left the decision to the club.

"Shouldn't we go to a game played behind closed doors? It's up to the president of the OGC to announce it. I gave you the equation, it is easy to understand", a he explained.

"I believe it is a necessary measure, added the prefect, and an OGCN-PSG match in front of his TV, it is as fascinating as a stage of the Tour de France in front of his television".

Thursday, Marseille-Saint-Étienne (0-2) was played in front of only 1,000 spectators.

Here too the gauge had been reduced in the last few days from 5,000 to 1,000, while the seats were already sold.

© 2020 AFP