Riots in Nice: kick-off postponed by an hour

Created: 09/08/2022Updated: 09/08/2022 19:22

Fans run over a grandstand with pyrotechnics.

© dpa

Serious riots broke out before the Conference League game of Bundesliga soccer club 1. FC Köln at OGC Nice, and the kick-off was initially postponed by around an hour.

After a security meeting, UEFA decided that the game should start at 19.40 instead of 18.45.

This was announced at 6:57 p.m. over the stadium microphones in German and French.

Nice – In the event of another incident, the game will be stopped immediately.

Around 50 masked Cologne residents had initially attacked the French block.

Flares, e-scooters, chairs and tables flew during the ensuing argument.

It took more than five minutes for the police to get the situation under control.

Around five minutes later, Nice supporters attacked the Cologne block.

This time the situation was under control more quickly.

Nothing was initially known about injuries and arrests.

Captain Jonas Hector from 1. FC Köln and Nice's captain Dante stepped in front of their fan blocks with microphones.

“We wanted to celebrate a football festival with you.

We still want to play, but of course we can't approve of that," said Hector: "We worked our ass off to qualify for the Conference League and we want to play this too.

Please keep quiet, we want to celebrate football here and not have violence."

The association wrote that it condemned “every form of violence.

We stand for fair sporting dealings and respectful behavior.

We are very sorry for all the peaceful fans who have made today a Cologne football festival.” dpa