Cyrille de la Morinerie, edited by Thibaud Le Meneec 7:59 p.m., August 23, 2021

In the aftermath of the interruption of Nice-Marseille due to an invasion of the field by the Nice supporters, the questions are numerous, both on the attitude of the supporters and on the response of the Professional Football League.

This could decide this week to impose a conservatory closed session on the Nice club. 

DECRYPTION

A bottle thrown at a player, an invaded field, a general fight… The match between Nice and Marseille ended in a gigantic mess, Sunday evening, at the Allianz Riviera in the French Riviera.

The meeting was interrupted for an hour and a half and never resumed, the Marseille players having refused to return to the field.

Incidents which aroused many reactions from actors in the field, but also from the Minister of Sports. 

While the two clubs are summoned by the disciplinary committee of the Professional Football League, Wednesday evening, Roxana Maracineanu considered that these incidents were an insult to football.

The Minister for Sports is calling for sanctions, which is also requested by the mayor of Nice, Christian Estrosi, for whom the violence "is still intolerable".

On the side of OM, a source describes Marseille players annoyed by the turn of events, others in shock. 

Multiple convictions

Monday afternoon, on the club's website, Steve Mandanda reacted and justified the club's decision not to resume the match. The players were overcome by fear, explained the OM captain. "For us, the players, our security was no longer there," lamented the porter. "We found ourselves in danger because we had a lot of our players who were targeted and affected. When we see that there are between 500 and 1,000 supporters who allow themselves like that to enter the field to come attacking us is something that we cannot tolerate. And for all these reasons, we cannot go back to the field. "

On the side of the Nice supporters, the members of the popular South tribune condemned via a press release the throwing of projectiles and the invasion of the ground.

The ultras from Nice promise to exclude from their group any individual who will not behave in an exemplary manner in the future.

For its part, the club condemns the throwing of bottles which took place, but also judges that "the tipping point" had been "the irresponsible attitude of several members of the Marseille club".

Police custody and an investigation

Concretely, in terms of consequences, there is first the judicial aspect.

An investigation was opened with, according to a police source at AFP, the custody of a man suspected of having hit a Marseille player. 

There is also a sports component. The disciplinary committee of the LFP will meet Wednesday evening at 6 p.m. in Paris. She called the two clubs who will have to explain themselves, with the appointment of an instructor. An investigation will be carried out for at least fifteen days before knowing the sanctions.

According to a source close to the authorities joined by Europe 1, given the gravity of the facts, precautionary measures should be taken this week. Some players could be suspended. Nice, which plays Saturday at 5 p.m. against Bordeaux, could also play in a partially or even completely empty stadium next weekend. The prefect of the Alpes Maritimes could decide to close the stands. As for the result, a 1-0 victory for Nice against Marseille since it has not yet been confirmed, all scenarios are possible. Confirmation of result, match to replay, even a defeat of Nice on the green carpet.