Nice-Cologne: Complete narrative and chronology of events in the viewfinder for RMC Sport cameras

It was an evening marked by fresh events on a football pitch that saw OGC Nice against Cologne in the Europa League Conference on Thursday night. Thanks to the cameras of RMC Sport, the match announcer, we were able to trace the chain of events to try to understand the failures.

RMC Sport reviewed all of its cameras placed yesterday in Nice to try to understand the conditions of the events inside the sports enclosure. Cologne supporters were more than 8000 present at Ray’s booth. Nice reserved this part in order to ensure optimum security and to avoid people in the other stands of the stadium.

One element is clear when looking at the photos: Cologne fans have easy access to the Popular South booth from Ray’s stand via Segurane (the VIP side area). No filter, just dozens of security guards and a low wall. In a press release published on Friday, Nice Eco Stadium (NES), the stadium’s operator, confirmed that it had not received “any written or oral request from the club inclined to change the division of the stands”. According to our information, the prefecture recommended to the organizer to strengthen the separation at this meeting.

On the Garibaldi platform, the situation is different. Cologne supporters were stopped by the windows that are usually the visitors’ parking lot. No contact between the two parties in this area, just throwing projectiles. For accidents inside a sports enclosure, the pictures may seem long but all the action takes place in less than thirty minutes.

Another element, after seeing these pictures, we can see that the police finally stepped in very quickly. The police do not control the security inside the sports arena. It intervenes when the situation is no longer manageable by the SS. DNLH tracksuit cops intervene first, even before Nice fans arrive, but very few in front of hundreds of Cologne supporters. There is less than 10 minutes between the first movement of the Cologne crowd and the first CRS in law enforcement uniforms (others will intervene before but with fewer resources). The meeting is rated 3 out of 5 by the DNLH.

According to police sources at RMC Sport, negotiations have been “difficult” to get the CRS inside the case. Looking at the photos, the “fighting” sequence between the two parties lasts no more than four minutes. An important element in light of these images is that the hosts, as happened during the Stade de France events last May, appear confused and inadequate in the face of the attackers.

Insufficient number of referees, the lanes between the stands are easily accessible. The Allianz Riviera in particular saw quite a few supporters of Cologne (between 100 and 150 in regards to pictures) with a clear desire to want to contact the people of Nice. The Germans apparently waged hostilities over the available images, and some Nice supporters responded. Some of the pictures are very violent.

Event thread:

5:35 pm: The Cologne team arrives in Allianz Riviera under police escort. A minute later, it was OGC Nice’s turn.

5:41 pmThe players of the two teams get to know the field.

5:52 PM “There’s a lot of atmosphere, they’re used to moving numbers in Germany,” says Lucien Favre over the RMC Sport microphone on the edge of the lawn. Cologne’s 8000 supporters are already in their ‘parking lot’.

5:54 pmOGC Nice goalkeepers are preparing, very few Nice fans in the stands.

5:55 pmKowloon goalkeepers warm up, cheered by the 8000 fans in the stands.

5:59 pm: The first movement of Cologne supporters from the Rai podium to the Sigurani Pavilion (presidential position). Members of the organization begin to stir on the ground. “People’s South” position is not yet complete, very few supporters of the OGCN.

6:00 pm : The first DNLH police officers, in tracksuits, scanned jets of projectiles from Cologne fans. One policeman was hit by a smoke bomb.

6:01 pm: The appearance of the first “supporters” of cologne at the level of the second ring near the squares of Nice. A smoke grenade is in hand, about twenty people very easily reach the “southern popular” turn. Little excitement on the level of the Nice fans who started running in all directions. The first smoke grenade was fired, followed at great speed by a second that ended at the level of the governors stationed near the entrance to J2. Cologne fans arrive for the first promotion. At the moment there is no contact Nice.

6:04 PM: The first contact between the two parties. Too much noise on the lawn. There is no player on the field. There are several governors in the middle of the two camps with policemen in tracksuits, members of the DNLH. Absolutely not equipped to maintain order, the hosts and first of all police officers try to contain the inhabitants of Nice.

6:05/6:06 p.m.: The hosts present with the orange and yellow chasubles seem completely overwhelmed. Cologne fans are in abundance at the VIP entrances to the official platform. Dozens of individuals are in contact with Nice hosts and supporters. Among them is a member identified today by RMC Sport as Romain L.. Agricultural bombs exploded. Many supporters use their belts to communicate with the people at the front. The entrance to J2 is blocked by Nice supporters. Those in Cologne are masked. The fights between the two camps are connected, the man in the white shirt is very close to falling on the lower level. Cologne supporters throw a lot of projectiles and hit poles that separate the different areas in the VIP corners.

6:07 pm: The arrival of the police to strengthen the rulers. They enter through the opening J2.3. About twenty police officers struggle to reach the small wall separating Nice and the Germans. They all pulled a bat and two police officers used tear gas in an attempt to disperse the Cologne crowd. These are not afraid of the police, throwing projectiles is constant.

6:08 PM: The police advanced towards the Segurane position to return the Germans to their position. Some Cologne supporters have scars on their faces from the use of tear gas.

6:12 PM: Calm returned to part of the official podium, and the Germans returned to their pulpit. The police seem to be in control.

6:14 pm: Message from the announcer: “Go back to your seats!” The stadium is never full, except in the Cologne region.

6:15 pm: One side is appeased, it’s now up to the other side to heat up. The police are forced to pass through the grass to reach the Garibaldi pulpit side.

6:16 pm: The windows separating the two halves of the Garibaldi Tribune sector are holding up well, the police have arrived. An OGCN fan throws a smoke bomb at a Cologne fan standing near a pole on the other side. The police have taken control of the area, and the hosts are telling supporters to return to the popular south.

6:23 pm: A letter from Jonas Hector to the supporters of Cologne.

6:35 pm: A letter from Dante to the supporters of Nice. Kick-off is in danger. Meeting with UEFA and the governor, kick-off was postponed. UEFA is pressing to keep the match.

6:55 pmThe kick-off has been postponed to 7:40 PM.