Ajaccio-OM: investigation after the attack on a journalist, indignation around that of a sick child

Europe 1 with AFP 13:44 p.m., June 04, 2023

Justice opened an investigation after the assault Saturday, after a tense match between Ajaccio and Marseille, a journalist of France 3 and the Corsican club has for its part denounced the aggression of a sick child and his family in the stadium. After the match, which ended in a 1-0 defeat for Olympique de Marseille (OM) on the last day of Ligue 1, a journalist from France 3 Corsica Via Stella was assaulted by Marseille fans at a petrol station near the stadium.

"Initial indications of significant violence committed by a group of individuals whose identities are being sought. A custody was initiated at 1:15 "Sunday, told AFP the prosecutor of the Republic of Ajaccio Nicolas Septe. An investigation is opened on charges of "aggravated violence and aggravated robbery". The journalist is hospitalized and "quite seriously injured without his life being in danger", he added. The channel announced the filing of a complaint.

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Child 'shamefully abused' with parents

In addition, a child with cancer invited Saturday in Corsica to realize his "dream" of meeting OM players was "shamefully abused" with his parents in the stadium, announced Sunday AC Ajaccio, speaking of "unspeakable acts".

"The dream quickly turned into a nightmare when Kenzo and his parents, who came in the colors of Olympique de Marseille, were shamefully abused by individuals who broke into their dressing room," the club said in a statement.

"As soon as the individuals have been identified by our services, we will file a complaint against them," he promises. In the daily Corse Matin, the president of the Orsi Ribelli supporters group disputes details of the story while confirming that "some people sitting in the Faedda stand went up, punched the father twice to make him remove the jersey before going down with the outfit".

Indignation

The mayor of Ajaccio, Stéphane Sbraggia, expressed on Twitter his indignation at the "gratuitous and scandalous aggression" of the child and his parents as well as that of the journalist "brutalized in the exercise of his functions", "acts that testify to a worrying loss of values". At the end of the match, however, the child was able to spend a moment with one of his idols, OM player Matteo Guendouzi, according to an AFP journalist.

As early as Friday, tensions had erupted between supporters of both sides in Ajaccio, requiring the creation at the last minute of a fan-zone on a beach for the hundreds of Marseille supporters who had made the trip.