OGC Nice is facing serious challenges. During the night from Sunday to Monday, certain supporters crossed the line by attacking club members, including sporting director Florian Maurice, along with players Terem Moffi and Jérémie Boga. As detailed earlier, they were insulted and physically assaulted. The two players had to take a break and have filed a complaint. Jonathan Clauss is expected to follow suit, as he privately indicated he had been struck. Meanwhile, after considering leaving, Franck Haise decided to stay with his team, which has been significantly impacted by these grave incidents. The Nice coach clarified the situation in L’Equipe, addressing conflicting reports regarding the attacks on the players.
Habib Beye Speaks Out
“We cannot ignore what happened. When I hear that not much took place… Players were assaulted. The medical leave isn’t just a coincidence. The sporting director was attacked and spat on; don’t tell me that wasn’t true. Responsibilities must be acknowledged, and that hasn’t happened. I hope things will change. Even those not hit are shocked. The players are confused. What would have happened if someone had reacted? Some came masked, carrying pétanque balls… Were they there to play pétanque?” The Aiglons remained silent but united to issue a joint press release condemning the violence they faced. On Thursday, other Ligue 1 participants reacted. They are understandably shocked but also supportive, like Rennes coach Habib Beye.
“I’m shocked by the image we’re giving of our football through these acts; it’s unacceptable. We need to wake up quickly because what’s happening in football today involves insults, spitting, and perhaps physical attacks. What will happen when it escalates? We’ll wake up one day and realize something even worse has occurred. This isn’t a new problem that only happened in Nice; it’s happened elsewhere, as I’ve explained. We have a right to entertainment—supporters come to enjoy a spectacle. When this dynamic shifts, it becomes extreme. Sanctions need to be established, or we’ll regret it when something more severe happens, which is already alarming.”
Ligue 1 Shocked but United
Beye added: “Supporters? They aren’t supporters; let’s stop calling them that. You empower them. You can’t call 400 people who come to confront players supporters. They’re not there to support the team. If they’re there for violence, they’re not supporters.” Bruno Genesio from LOSC, who has worked with Florian Maurice, also commented: “A close friend of mine is in the club. When I heard what happened, I called him right away. Football is secondary in such moments. It’s okay to be angry, to boo, but resorting to violence is unacceptable, in football or elsewhere,” he stated, without naming his long-time friend.
Pierre Sage, who is familiar with Nice, currently works at Lens, one of Franck Haise’s former clubs. He addressed this situation thoughtfully: “Having lived in this city for 12 years, I know the club and community well,” he said Thursday. “It’s quite alarming. I always question how individuals who unite for a common goal—players, coaches, supporters—can show so much love at one moment and then arrive at such violence a few months later. There are always deeper issues at play here. I believe that sports and clubs are arenas for other battles, which may need to be resolved to allow space for genuine sports interests.” This serves as a reminder for all.
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