While nearly 8,000 Cologne supporters landed in Nice for the Europa League conference meeting, Thursday September 8, at 6.45 p.m., clashes broke out in the stands of the Allianz Riviera. German fans crossed the stands of the stadium to do battle with Nice supporters, resulting in a postponement of the kick-off of the match at 7:40 p.m. Eighteen people were injured, including one seriously, according to the prefecture.
I deplore the uncivil and scandalous behavior of the supporters of @fckoeln and the lack of respect for the city which welcomes them in a generous and fraternal way. We will send invoices related to damage and cleaning of public spaces to the Cologne club. pic.twitter.com/NapR7RA9RN
—Christian Estrosi (@cestrosi) September 8, 2022
Earlier in the day, thousands of FC Cologne supporters had already degraded Place Massena and the OGC Nice store, covering the streets with their waste. What to attract the wrath of the mayor, Christian Estrosi: “I deplore the uncivil and scandalous behavior of Cologne supporters and the lack of respect for the city which welcomes them in a generous and fraternal way. We will send the invoices related to the damage and cleaning of public spaces to the Cologne club”.
Upon their arrival at the stadium, German supporters crossed the stands to do battle with the people of Nice, with throwing of projectiles, smoke bombs, and blows exchanged. A man fell five meters, between two stands, and is in a state of absolute emergency. This individual, “very alcoholic”, suffers “from a cranial and thoracic trauma and his vital prognosis is engaged”clarified Benoit Huber, the director of cabinet of the prefect of the Alpes-Maritimes. This supporter”is actually a Parisian supporter“, infiltrated into the German ranks, he also indicated, recalling that the supporters of the Auteuil stand at the Parc des Princes in Paris “have ties to Cologne ultras”.
To disperse the crowd, the police used tear gas and then the captains of each team were called upon to call for calm. At the end of a crisis meeting, the UEFA authorities and the local authorities decided to postpone the kick-off to 7.40 p.m., which could be given. An announcement on the microphone also told all spectators that at the slightest additional incident, the match would be stopped.