OGC Nice fans invaded the pitch at the Allianz Riviera on Sunday night after a goalless draw with Metz forced the Ineos-owned club into a Ligue 1 relegation play-off. The French side needed a victory to ensure safety after a dismal campaign, but could not break down a Metz team that was already bottom of the league, 15 points behind Claude Puel's side before the fixture.
The result means Nice must enter a two-legged play-off against St-Etienne, who finished third in the French second tier, to avoid the drop. At the full-time whistle, Nice ultras wearing balaclavas and holding flares stormed the pitch, sending players scurrying down the tunnel to avoid confrontation. The ultras had moved from their usual spot in the upper tier mid-match as it became clear the result was going south.
Protest against club ownership
Supporters directed their anger toward Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos, who are looking to sell the club as they pour all their efforts into Manchester United. Nice started the season in the Champions League after a fourth-placed finish last term, but now end it on the brink of their first relegation to Ligue 2 in nearly 20 years. Ratcliffe purchased the club in 2019 and is seeking a cut-price deal to offload Nice, but is currently no closer to finding a buyer.
The hostile mood marked a stark shift from pre-game positivity, when fans displayed a banner reading 'Everyone to Paris' as Nice prepare to face Lens in the Coupe de France final at the Stade de France on Friday. During Sunday's match, supporters chanted the French equivalent of 'Get your a***s into gear' as they sensed the required result would not be achieved.
Escalating supporter violence
Sunday's chaos was reminiscent of scenes back in November, when around 400 angry supporters waited at the training ground after a 3-1 defeat by Lorient, the team's sixth successive defeat. During that attack, players Boga and Moffi were reportedly punched, kicked, spat on, struck in the genitals, and targeted with racist slurs. Moffi played 90 minutes in that fixture, while Boga came off the bench.