Started in a climate of high tension on Saturday, with incidents between supporters of the two clubs before kick-off, including exchanges of objects and insults (some racist), the match between Ajaccio and OM (1-0) turned into a nightmare for a young Olympian fan. Suffering from brain cancer, Kenzo, 8 years old, had come to attend the François-Coty stadium at the last match of the season of his club.
Invited with his family to attend the match in the box, the little supporter and his father were first separated by about fifteen Corsican supporters, reports RTL. The little boy was then torn off and burned his OM jersey in front of his eyes. His father was beaten several times.
"You don't see that it's a sick child, a child who has cancer"
The day after the attack on her son, his mother Amandine returned to RTL on this deplorable incident. "From the stadium, we see young people going up and pointing at us. I was on the stairs, I had to go down to get a document and they forced the passage, she says. I shouted at them, 'You don't see it's a sick child, a child with cancer, leave them.' The gentleman looked at me, pushed me and passed anyway. They went up to I don't know how many, a good dozen. My youngest jumped into the next box, through the barrier. Kenzo was pushed onto the barrier at the level of the chairs. He slapped her face and my husband punched twice in the face. »
#ACAOM #TeamOM #OM #K@lecombatdekenzo
Thank you all on behalf of Kenzo and his family for your immense support and solidarity. I showed your messages to Kenzo, who is very touched. He slowly recovers. His exchange with his idol @MatteoGuendouzi put balm in 💙 his https://t.co/2pLATOTGot pic.twitter.com/H8LQnys9Fg
— Stephanie Freedman (@Steph13Freed) June 3, 2023
The little boy was then torn off and burned his OM jersey in front of his eyes. "Once they burned the shirt, they shouted, 'You were burned, son of a bitch.' Afterwards, they were very imposing and they even spat in the food. My son was taken care of urgently, he was shocked, he was struggling to recover, his red eye with a swollen face. He was crying and shaking and couldn't breathe. In fact, we would never have believed that we were attacking a child, whatever. »
« Even the most extreme stupidity cannot excuse these behaviors! »
The club of Ajaccio has condemned this aggression and will file a complaint as soon as the individuals are clearly identified. Parents are thinking of filing a complaint but are currently afraid of reprisals. "These individuals do not represent the values of our club and our island. Even the most extreme stupidity cannot excuse these behaviors! The club condemns with the utmost firmness these unspeakable acts! (...) AC Ajaccio stands in solidarity with little Kenzo and his parents," ACA said in a statement.
On Friday, incidents had already opposed supporters, especially near a hotel where Marseillais were staying. Four people were lightly injured. The mayor of the city, Stéphane Sbraggia, had asked Friday night for the cancellation of the match so that the fans, most of whom were to arrive Saturday, do not "expose themselves to a risk of violence that is already present and that could take an uncontrollable scale".
