The Professional Football League (LFP) on Wednesday 25 August imposed on OGC Nice to play behind closed doors its French championship match against Bordeaux, on Saturday, pending investigation of the file relating to the incidents that marked the Nice-Marseille meeting, Sunday.
The physical trainer of Olympique de Marseille (OM), Pablo Fernandez, has been suspended “Of all official functions” as a precaution, after hitting a supporter who came down on the lawn. The disciplinary committee of the LFP has also placed the case under investigation and will render its decisions on Wednesday, September 8.
These are the first disciplinary sanctions taken by the LFP after the chaos that occurred at the Allianz Riviera on Sunday during the 3e Ligue 1 day.
The match was interrupted at the 75e minute when OM midfielder Dimitri Payet received a bottle in the back, thrown from the stands. Bottle that he launched towards the public, before dozens of spectators invaded the lawn, causing a general fight and clashes involving players, management members, supporters and even leaders in the presidential stand.
Nice also risks sanctions
Those “Players in the game” They too may be subject to sanctions at the end of the investigation, warned the organizing body of the French championship.
“The result of the match is not counted in the classification of Ligue 1” pending decisions, adds the LFP, confirming that the disciplinary committee will rule on the fate of the meeting (1-0 victory maintained for Nice, defeat on the green carpet, match to be replayed…).
OGC Nice, which also risks sanctions for the behavior of its supporters, will have to play its next match without spectators (“Total closed session”), Saturday at 5 p.m. against Bordeaux. But the prefect of the Alpes-Maritimes department, Bernard Gonzalez, has already ordered, Monday evening, the closure “For the next four matches played at home” from the Popular South stand of the Nice stadium, the Allianz Riviera.
The disciplinary committee also ruled on the throwing objects that occurred during Montpellier-Marseille on August 8, and two stands at the Mosson stadium in Montpellier were closed for three matches, one of which has already been purged.
