L’Equipe, France Football, and many other sports newspapers both in print and online have stigmatized a certain violence carried by the red and black supporters, even the new President of the Republic, Nicolas Sarkozy, has mentioned the Nice ultras for their violence during an episode of Canal +’s Le Grand Journal. Although it is regrettable that a few incidents sometimes occur around and in the Léo Lagrange stadium, each loyal Nice supporter does not remember repeated violence, a frenzy of ultras, or even less so the so-called monkey chants heard coming from the stands.
In short, it will be on the occasion of the match against PSG, a significant symbol, that the kickoff will be given by the associations Sian d’Aqui and SOS Racisme, and T-shirts will be available at a shared booth located in the presidential stand.
Nice Premium gives the floor to Fabrice Mauro, President of Sian d’Aqui, who will explain the rationale behind this initiative.
Nice Premium: Fabrice Mauro, Sian d’Aqui co-organizes with SOS Racisme an operation to prevent violence in stadiums during Nice-PSG. Can you tell us more?
Fabrice Mauro: We were approached by SOS Racisme, which is organizing an operation that has taken place in all the fields of France, named: “Don’t touch my football” No to violence in stadiums. We joined this operation with great pleasure and saw it as a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate that we have no problem with violence among our supporters. We can be proud, notably during our final in Paris, that 28,000 people from Nice, despite a bitter defeat, did not cause a single problem in the capital. As for certain press that stigmatizes the violence of the red and black supporters, I invite them to come to the Ray stadium before writing lies.
NP: What will be the events of this operation?
FM: We will have a shared booth in front of the presidential stand on the evening of Nice PSG, we will wear T-shirts saying Don’t touch my football and will distribute flyers: “Basta la vioulença au stade” (Basta the violence at the stadium). We are scheduled to give the kickoff of the match. I must tell you that various Niçoise personalities like Louis Pastorelli singer of Nux Vomica, Richard Cairaschi, comedian, and Christian Bezet singer of Lo Mago d’en Casteu did not hesitate for a moment to join us and deliver a preventive and peaceful message.
NP: Why the choice of Nice and this specific match?
FM: As I mentioned earlier, this operation took place in several stadiums in France. It is normal and natural that it also takes place in Nice. The choice of the Nice PSG match is not trivial. If we have fabulous supporters, not everyone can say the same, especially not PSG.
NP: What message do you wish to convey?
FM: Football, despite its massive financial stakes, remains a sport, a game. Coming to the stadium should not be an outlet for violence and hatred. We hope that the visiting supporters during this match remain calm, show intelligence, and maintain dignity in defeat.
NP: Lastly, do you agree when national media say that the Nice public has racist tendencies?
FM: That is something to scream about!! I have been going to the stadium since I was 3 years old with my father; I’m almost 39, and I have NEVER heard a racist remark in the stands of the Ray stadium, never. God knows there have unfortunately been dozens of cases of racism in France or abroad but in Nice, I have never heard monkey chants, never seen bananas thrown on the field or other such stupidities. It is worth giving a big hats off to our leaders, our supporter clubs, and in a broader sense to the Poble Nissart. Writing such lies deserves tar and feathers. I see only stupidity, jealousy, and disinformation, but unfortunately, coming from some national media, it doesn’t surprise me anymore.
