UEFA opens disciplinary cases against Nice and Cologne after night of extreme violence

September 11 – UEFA have opened disciplinary proceedings against both OGC Nice and FC Cologne after their Conference League opener last Thursday was marred by violent scenes that saw running battles both inside and outside the stadium.

The kick-off was delayed by 55 minutes as fans fought physically, threw objects and launched pyrotechnics at each other.

UEFA has charged hosts Nice with throwing of objects, lighting of foreworks, crowd disturbances, ‘Identification of persons responsible’, security personnel, screening and searching of spectators, limitation of spectator movement, blocking of public passageways.

About 10,000 Cologne fans were in Nice for the game at the Allianz Riviera stadium. Cologne have been charged with throwing of objects, lighting of fireworks and crowd disturbances.

Local police reported 39 people were injured, including nine police officers and one man who fell from the upper tier, suffering a serious head injury and several broken ribs.

Trouble began earlier in the day in Nice city centre, with the city mayor threatening to send a bill to FC Cologne for damage caused. Cologne fans and the club have responded by criticising inadequate policing and security.

Reports say that the Cologne hooligans were accompanied by violent ultras linked to German sides Borussia Dortmund and Rot-Weiss Essen, as well as French side Paris-Saint Germain, with whom some Cologne fan groups maintain friendly relations.

The PSG ultras from the Supras Auteuil were banned from the Parc des Princes in 2010.

In a statement PSG said: “The club reiterates that the group Supras Auteil was dissolved by decree on April 29, 2010, and that its former members are not recognized as supporters of Paris Saint-Germain.”

UEFA said its disciplinary bodies “will decide on the matter in due course”.

The violence marked another miserable night in France for UEFA and the French authorities following the debacle of the 2022 Champions League final and the police failure to keep Liverpool fans safe.

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