Paris (AFP)
A member of the Marseille staff suspended, a closed-door match in Nice, pending further decisions on September 8: the Professional Football League on Wednesday pronounced the first disciplinary sanctions against the two clubs involved in the incidents of the Allianz Riviera on Sunday.
The only player in the game sanctioned for the moment, the physical trainer of Olympique de Marseille, Pablo Fernandez, has been suspended "from all official functions" as a precaution.
The images of his 50-meter sprint to go punch a supporter down on the lawn, had been around social networks.
He risks several months of suspension.
As for the OGC Nice, responsible for the behavior of its supporters with regard to the regulations, it will have to play its next match without spectators ("total closed door"), Saturday against Bordeaux (5:00 pm), pending final decisions.
For the rest, and not surprisingly, the Disciplinary Commission of the Professional Football League (LFP) has placed the case under investigation, and promises to render its decisions on Wednesday, September 8.
- The Nice club heard in Paris -
It will take two weeks to study each of the incidents that occurred during the match of the 3rd day of Ligue 1, interrupted after 75 minutes when OM midfielder Dimitri Payet received a bottle in the back, launched from the stands. .
Bottle that he launched towards the public, before dozens of spectators invaded the lawn, causing a general fight and clashes involving players, management members, supporters and even leaders in the presidential stand.
To be heard on Wednesday, the director of football of OGC Nice, Julien Fournier, presented himself before 5 p.m. at the headquarters of the Professional Football League (LFP) in Paris, followed a few minutes later by President Jean-Pierre Rivère, AFP journalists noted.
They did not wish to speak when they left the hearing.
The president of OGC Nice, Jean-Pierre Rivère, when he left the headquarters of the Professional Football League, August 25, 2021 in Paris, after his hearing following the incidents that occurred on Sunday during the Nice-Marseille match in Paris. 'Allianz Arena STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN AFP
Marseille representatives (President Pablo Longoria and Legal Director Alexandre Miahle in particular), for their part, appeared by videoconference at this first hearing of the Disciplinary Commission.
Solicited on Wednesday evening, OM had not reacted either at the end of the evening.
The Commission must rule on the three disciplinary aspects of the case: the behavior of the Nice supporters, which can lead to sanctions for OGC Nice (closing of stands, withdrawal of points, etc.), that of the players in the game (players , supervision, managers ...) which could be sanctioned with matches or periods of suspension, and finally the fate of the meeting (1-0 victory maintained for Nice, defeat on the green carpet, match to be replayed ...).
- A supporter judged on September 22 -
In the judicial field, the case continued on Tuesday at the Nice Judicial Court, with the placement under judicial supervision of a Nice supporter author of a kick in the direction of Dimitri Payet.
The latter expressed his regret, indicating that he felt "ashamed".
He will be tried on September 22 after asking for a delay to prepare his defense.
A supporter struggling with the Nice-Marseille players, interrupted in the 75th after incidents at the Allianz Riviera stadium in Nice, August 22, 2021 Valery HACHE AFP
The Nice prosecutor announced on Monday the opening of several investigations, in particular for "throwing projectiles" and "aggravated willful violence", while the prefect of the Alpes-Maritimes Bernard Gonzalez has already ordered the closure "for the next four matches played at home "from the Popular South stand of the Allianz Riviera.
Since the start of the season, several matches have been punctuated by incidents involving supporters, in particular clashes outside the stadium on the sidelines of OM-Bordeaux, Brest-Rennes or even Lens-Saint-Etienne, as well as the throwing of objects during from Montpellier-OM on August 8.
On this last match, a closure of two stands for three matches was pronounced Wednesday.
A situation considered as a "worrying trend" by the president of the LFP Vincent Labrune in a letter to the government of which AFP has obtained a copy and in which he called on Tuesday for a "common action" to secure the stadiums .
© 2021 AFP