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Riots at the Cologne game in Nice
Photo:
IMAGO/Ralf Treese / IMAGO/Treese
Serious riots broke out before 1. FC Köln's game at French first division club OGC Nice in the Conference League.
A German fan was apparently seriously injured in the clashes between supporters of both teams.
This was reported by the AFP news agency.
According to this, the man from Cologne fell five meters from an upper tier.
In a security meeting of the European Football Association (Uefa), it had to be clarified whether the game could take place at all.
The kick-off scheduled for 6:45 p.m. was finally postponed to 7:40 p.m.
8,000 fans traveled from Cologne to the city in southern France.
According to the German Press Agency, 50 hooded people from Cologne attacked the block of Nice fans.
Flares, e-scooters, chairs and tables were used in the conflict.
It took more than five minutes for the police to bring the situation under control.
Shortly thereafter, Nice supporters attacked the Cologne block.
This time the situation was brought under control more quickly.
Nothing was initially known about arrests.
»We wanted to celebrate a football festival with you«
The captains of the two teams, Jonas Hector from Cologne and Dante from Nice, 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," Hector said. "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.«
1. FC Köln wrote on Twitter 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."
At midday, thousands of FC fans paraded through Nice and celebrated their club's return to the European Cup with carnival songs and a big parade.
Nice's mayor criticizes Cologne fans
Christian Estrosi, Mayor of Nice, was upset with the behavior of FC supporters.
"I regret the rude and scandalous behavior of the Cologne fans and the lack of respect for the city, which welcomes them generously and brotherly," he tweeted with photos of garbage leftovers in the city.
"We will send the bills for damage and cleaning of public places to the Cologne association," he announced.
Deputy Mayor Pierre-Paul Léonelli also tweeted pictures and wrote: "Who says the Germans are disciplined?" Kick-off: "OGC Nice 1, 1. FC Cologne 0."
mrk/dpa/sid
