'Horrific': Chaos breaks out mid-match in French football 'disgrace'
A French football match has descended into chaos after fans stormed the pitch in an ugly clash with officials and players.
The French Ligue 1 game between Nice and Marseille was halted when fans of the home side invaded the pitch and angrily confronted opposing player Dimitri Payet before an ugly brawl broke out involving players and spectators.
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An AFP journalist at the Allianz Riviera Stadium said trouble flared in the 75th minute when Marseille star Payet - who had been pelted with bottles from the Nice fans all game - threw one back towards the crowd.
One video showed what seemed to be an almost full plastic bottle of water hit Payet in the back and explode, as he was walking over to take a corner kick.
๐จโฝ๏ธ | This is Payet being hit with the bottle first which kicked everything off. pic.twitter.com/2kMNhidPOz
โ Football For All (@FootballlForAll) August 22, 2021
Dimitri Payet's back. pic.twitter.com/hFmiwg97ni
โ Get French Football News (@GFFN) August 22, 2021
Payet had clearly had enough and decided to throw the bottle back towards the crowd in anger, which ultimately kicked off the chaotic scenes.
Angry Nice fans then clambered onto the pitch, threatening Payet, who had collapsed to the ground, before the referee led both teams to the dressing room.
In the melee, Marseille's Alvaro Gonzalez and Matteo Guendouzi ran towards the end of the ground to face down the fans.
Nice skipper Dante then attempted to calm angry supporters.
A security cordon of stewards, dressed in yellow vests, tried to stem the pitch invasion before a brawl broke out between players of the two teams, supporters and staff.
Pitch invasion by fans during Nice-Marseille pic.twitter.com/s0drLdN97b
โ ๐ฝใ (@gexmsvivi) August 22, 2021
Marseille coach Jorge Sampaoli was seen being restrained by his staff and players.
Officials tried to restart the match after a lengthy delay but due to the chaotic circumstances, Marseille's players refused to take the pitch again.
Viewers outraged by shocking incident
Making the situation even worse is the fact that French league rules state that Nice will be awarded a 3-0 win because of Marseille's refusal to finish the match, despite the fact they were targeted by unruly fans all match.
The shocking situation led to an outcry on social media, where the football world condemned the disgusting scenes.
Absolute shambles in Nice. Fans are a disgrace. Payet let himself down a little but I can understand his frustration.
Only acceptable sanction is massive points deduction for Nice - ZERO TOLERANCE.
Payet will likely get a few games ban too. #niceomโ Robin (@Robin8277) August 22, 2021
The stewards there have no control. As soon as those Marseille players walk back out they're going to get pelted with lighters and bottles. I dont blame Payet for snapping. This was happening before kick-off even. Disgrace for French footie
โ charliee106 (@charliee106) August 22, 2021
Nice fans attacked Marseille players and got away with it. Marseille are the ones getting punished for refusing to continue. No one should cry if this becomes a pattern ๐๐พ
โ Nkemjikรกยฐโ ๎จ (@CAN_Divine) August 22, 2021
Dimitri Payet gets attacked by ultras all game, throwing bottle after bottle. What's he meant to do? Take it again and again? The LFP are a disgrace if he gets banned for this.
โ Football Intelligence Unit (@unit_football) August 22, 2021
Yep, definitely normal...#Marseille #OGCNOM #Ligue1UberEats #Payet https://t.co/7VgeTeleZR
โ Harvey Easton (@HarveyEaston3) August 22, 2021
Nice should not play with their fans on the stadiums again for the duration of the season.
โ Santi Bauzรก ๐๐ (@santi_bauza) August 22, 2021
That is a disgrace from the OGC Nice fans payet had every right to throw that bottle back
โ Marc (@Marc90393268) August 22, 2021
Horrific precedent to set. So your fans invade the pitch, assault players on the other team and you win 3-0? Nice players and Ultras will be in serious danger when traveling to Marseille. https://t.co/IRg5YcnT1g
โ Billary Rodham (@iambillary) August 22, 2021
Incredibly, it's not even the first time in the new season that Marseille's fans have been at the centre of unruly crowd behaviour.
Marseille's opening 3-2 win at Montpellier two weeks ago was also held up when fans pelted the pitch with bottles.
That clash at Montpellier's Stade Mosson was halted in the 89th minute after Marseille substitute Valentin Rongier was hit on the head.
Montpellier's Florent Mollet was also hit as he was about to take a corner.
with AFP
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