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12/02/25 09:08:00
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12/02 03:27 CST Nice fans' fury boils over: Players attacked after sixth
straight loss
Nice fans' fury boils over: Players attacked after sixth straight loss
By SAMUEL PETREQUIN
AP Sports Writer
PARIS (AP) --- Ligue 1 club Nice has condemned "unacceptable" incidents after
angry fans attacked staff and players following yet another disappointing
performance from the Riviera side over the weekend.
After suffering a sixth consecutive loss across all competitions on Sunday ---
3-1 at Lorient in the French league --- Nice players were confronted by a large
number of their supporters when they returned to the club's training and
academy center.
Fans shouted insults and demanded greater commitment from the squad as tensions
escalated, with reports that some supporters even boarded the team bus.
"The club understands the frustration caused by the series of poor results and
performances that fall short of its values," Nice said in a statement late
Monday. "However, the incidents that occurred during this gathering are
unacceptable. Several members of the club were confronted and targeted. OGC
Nice offers them its full support and condemns these actions in the strongest
possible terms."
L'Equipe reported some players and staff were spat on when they exited the bus,
and even punched. Jrmie Boga and Terem Moffi were reportedly the most
violently attacked, taking multiple blows, including to the head and groin,
while sporting director Florian Maurice was also said to be assaulted.
L'Equipe and RMC reported that Boga and Moffi have been given medical leave.
Nice did not immediately respond to a request for comments from The Associated
Press.
After 14 rounds, Nice sits 10th in the table, 14 points behind leader Lens. It
has lost seven matches while conceding 26 goals.
The loss against Lorient came just three days after a 3-0 defeat at Porto in
the Europa League. The club is bottom of the league phase table, having lost
all five of its matches.
"We're fighting for survival, that's the reality," Nice coach Franck Haise said
on Sunday. "We'll fight with those who want to fight. A team exists only when
everyone has that desire."
Maurice pointed to a lack of cohesion within the team after Nice let a 1-0 lead
slip against Lorient.
"Every time there's a slight setback we can't recover," he said. "That proves
that we lack cohesion, perhaps values, at a given moment, to fight and go and
get results."
Haise signed a new two-year deal with the Ligue 1 club in September until 2029
despite a lackluster start to the season. Nice was knocked out of the Champions
League after losing to Benfica in the third qualifying round and has since
struggled to get its campaign going.
The 54-year-old Haise took over Nice during the 2024 summer and led the Riviera
team to a fourth-place finish last season.
Nice's next faces Angers at home on Sunday.
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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
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