Two months after the turbulent training session preceding the Lyon-Nice match, the Brigade Sud supporters came to disrupt the Aiglons’ session this Thursday at noon. A crowd movement, exchange of blows, and insults led to a swift intervention by the police.
Against Bastia, against Evian, at Charles-Ehrmann before Lyon, and again this Thursday at the same location. The members of Brigade Sud keep drawing attention, in a truly negative way. Yes, the season for Nice is more than disappointing, yes, it follows a similarly difficult 2013-2014 season. But this toxic environment has also contributed to the current malaise of the Aiglons, who find themselves securing their spot in the league with only two matchdays left.
This morning (Thursday, editor’s note), a new episode of “OGC Nice versus Populaire Sud” occurred. Nearly 150 “supporters” responded to the message posted last night (Wednesday) on the ultra group’s Facebook page. At the end of a short one-hour training session, players and staff were subjected to insults and blows amidst fireworks and agricultural bombs. To cover the few meters between the field and the locker room, stewards and police had to step in. Mouez Hassen even received several hits. Meanwhile, Nice coach Claude Puel was jostled. This is the second occurrence, two months after a hundred “supporters” intervened on the training field with flares. This time, the violence escalated. Twenty-four hours after the state council banned the recording of supporters, the ultras once again demonstrated their inability to control themselves and engage in dialogue.
From the pitch invasion against Bastia (on October 23) to the crowd movement in the stands against Evian (on April 4) and the provocations and discontent at the training center. Populaire Sud ticked off every item on the “not to do” list this season. As a result, the club has repeatedly been sanctioned with matches behind closed doors, totally or partially (against Metz, Lyon, Guingamp, and PSG). And what to say about the messages on the club’s social networks… With every match, there’s an outpouring of gratuitous insults and even various threats.
“We are evolving in a particular environment. They don’t make things easy for us, that’s a fact. We remain focused on the last two deadlines against Lens and Toulouse,” affirmed Claude Puel in a press briefing.
In the evening, the club responded by calling for calm, stating that avoiding relegation is the priority at the end of this season. After that, it will be time for assessments. But after such events, one can well imagine what might happen at the Allianz Riviera if there’s an underperformance against Lens.
Photo credit and more information on www.ogcnice.com
