Spectators stormed the lawn / Image: imago images / PanoramiC
After the violent tumult at the French Ligue 1 football match between OGC Nice and Olympique Marseille on Sunday evening, the prefect of the Alpes-Maritimes region has announced measures to prevent future riots. As a first step, the south stand in the stadium in Nice, where the tumult began, will be closed for the next four home games, announced Prefect Bernard Gonzalez on Tuesday.
In addition, the stands will be equipped with a net to ward off projectiles and stadium bans will be issued against those involved in the riots as soon as the police have identified them. A better protection of the guest gallery is also being investigated in order to prevent objects from being thrown and aggression.
From the start, Nice supporters kept throwing objects onto the pitch at the home game in Marseille. About a quarter of an hour before the final whistle, Marseille player Dimitri Payet was hit in the back by a plastic bottle in front of a corner and went down. In a rage, he threw several plastic bottles back towards the fan stand, other teammates hurried to his side. Dozens of Nice supporters then stormed into the field. There was scuffle between fans and players from both clubs. The players finally left the field, the game was initially interrupted and ultimately canceled.
