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<p>Fan violence in the stands caused a delay in the <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/conference-league-tv-schedule/">UEFA Europa Conference League</a> matchup between OGC Nice and FC Köln.</p>
<p>Footage inside the Allianz Riviera Stadium showed <a href="https:\/\/twitter.com/thecasualultra/status/1567933980514590722" rel="noopener" target="_blank">hectic scenes</a>. Opposing fans fought each other and shot flares back and forth. Moreover, a fan was <a href="https:\/\/twitter.com/BILD_FC/status/1567913466450661378" rel="noopener" target="_blank">pushed from the stands</a>, all before the game kicked off.</p>
<p>Early reports suggest at least 18 people suffered injuries. One of those is an ‘absolute emergency.’ Match organizers <a href="https:\/\/twitter.com/fckoeln_en/status/1567914462077751298" target="_new" rel="noopener">made the decision</a> to delay the game over the stadium’s intercom.</p>
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="fr" dir="ltr">Violents affrontements à l&apos;Allianz Riviera avant Nice-Cologne: un supporter est tombé d&apos;une tribune, suivez notre direct <a href="https:\/\/t.co/XYMPRHKvbO">https:\/\/t.co/XYMPRHKvbO</a> <a href="https:\/\/t.co/pRrJr5zXnx">pic.twitter.com/pRrJr5zXnx</a></p>
<p>— Nice-Matin (@Nice_Matin) <a href="https:\/\/twitter.com/Nice_Matin/status/1567914675509100545?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 8, 2022</a></p></blockquote></div>
<p><script async="" src="https:\/\/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<h3>Fan violence between Köln and OGC Nice</h3>
<p>The German club’s official Twitter account made a <a href="https:\/\/twitter.com/fckoeln_en/status/1567915148299337728" rel="noopener" target="_blank">statement condemning the actions</a> by the fans.</p>
<p>A <a href="https:\/\/twitter.com/matt_4d/status/1567936853084614656" rel="noopener" target="_blank">video of the Köln away end</a> shows hooligans entering the section, with one fan wearing what appears to be a Borussia Dortmund balaclava. </p>
<p>Also, Köln captain <a href="https:\/\/www.bundesliga.com/en/news/Bundesliga/jonas-hector-cologne-and-germany-first-choice-left-back-world-cup-476496.jsp" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Jonas Hector</a> took to the microphone inside the stadium. He pleaded with his team’s fans to stop the violence.</p>
<blockquote><p>“We’re really keen to play the game with you,” stated the German international.&nbsp; “We also want the game to happen. But, we have to say that we don’t approve of this. We don’t like to see it at all.”</p>
<p>“We worked our butt off on this last year and in the playoff games. And we would love to do that with you and that’s why I’m asking you: keep your nerve, stay calm, support us as best as you can.”</p>
<p>“That’s what the club wants, too. That we stand together and in peace just celebrate football and not violence.&nbsp; Thank you.”</p></blockquote>
<p>The match finally got underway in France after the delay. OGC Nice made their return to a European tournament after missing out last season. Köln, on the other hand, played their first UEFA game since their disappointing third-place finish in the 2017/18 Europa League group stage.</p>
<p>Ultimately, the match between OGC Nice and Köln ended in a 1-1 draw.</p>
<p><em>PHOTO: IMAGO / PanoramiC</em></p>


Violence between fans Nice and Koln suspended the match's kickoff for a period. Eighteen people suffered injuries prior to kickoff.

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FC Köln

Fan violence mars Nice-Köln game in Conference League