Before the game in the Conference League between OGC Nice and 1. FC Köln, there were violent clashes between fans in the stadium. The kick-off is delayed, it is unclear whether the game will be kicked off.
Serious riots broke out on Thursday (September 8th, 2022) before the Conference League game of Bundesliga soccer club 1. FC Köln at OGC Nice, and the kick-off was postponed indefinitely. “We are currently discussing the background. The UEFA safety meeting is now taking place,” FC tweeted around 15 minutes before the scheduled kick-off at 6:45 p.m.
On the way there, groups of 1.FC Köln fans were attacked by Nice supporters, reported WDR reporter Jochen Hilgers from Nice. The police had to intervene there. In the stadium, around 50 hooded FC supporters would have attacked the main stand and OGC fans. Pyrotechnics were also fired. Shortly thereafter, the French fans counterattacked. They also beat uninvolved residents of Cologne and shot them with firecrackers.
A crisis meeting is currently underway with UEFA officials who are discussing how to proceed. FC captain Jonas Hector addressed the FC fans with emotional words and asked for calm and prudence.