The altercation that took place on Saturday night between Northern Irish and Polish supporters, and 20 to 30 “ultras” from Nice who deliberately came to provoke them, should not overshadow the festive nature of Euro 2016 but calls for vigilance.
Forecasts from the previous day talked about 250,000 visitors which will bring an economic advantage to hotel and commercial activities, but also thousands of people strolling around the city and central areas. This inevitably leads to some disturbances.
The decision by the Minister of the Interior to ban the sale of alcoholic beverages in sensitive areas (stadium, fan-zone, etc.), which are often the source of inappropriate behavior, could, as long as it can be implemented effectively, help limit them.
Regarding the events of Saturday night, which are in no way comparable to those that occurred in Marseille, the actual incidents lasted only a few minutes, without spreading to neighboring streets.
The very rapid intervention of the police restored calm, as confirmed by the Prefecture.
Therefore, it is necessary to place the problem in its exact context and not make a special case out of it or mistake a scuffle for the start of a battle.
Information must also convey the facts as they are and not exaggerate them to create sensational headlines!
