The sentence has just fallen. The Nice supporter, Tony, 28, tried for entering the stadium during the meeting between OGC Nice and OM, on August 22, and for trying to assault Marseille player Dimitri Payet, was found guilty . He was sentenced to a one-year suspended prison sentence, a five-year ban on appearing in a stadium, the maximum penalty, and two years of judicial follow-up.
His lawyer, Me Benjamin Taieb, will not appeal. He considers that the sentence is “balanced, proportionate” in relation to the requisitions of the prosecutor who asked for imprisonment. “The stadium ban is quite legitimate and therefore, my client is satisfied,” he reacted after the deliberation on Thursday.
The Niçois will also have to pay the symbolic sums of one euro to the National Union of Professional Footballers (UNFP), Olympique de Marseille, Dimitri Payet and the Professional Football League (LFP) which had formed a civil party, in addition to compensating them for their legal fees which amount to 2,900 euros.
A first match with the public this Saturday in Nice
During the hearing, the Nice supporter had admitted the alleged facts and had repeated several times that he “regretted his gesture”. This explains why the sanction “is not more criminal”, according to his lawyer.
The latter adds: “This decision shows that it is inappropriate behavior that should absolutely not be found in sports arenas. Fans will also see that there can be a fairly substantial stadium ban. One way of being able to perhaps appease the current context in football stadiums. “
In addition to the ban on appearing in a sports arena, Tony will have to point to the Mandelieu-la-Napoule gendarmerie, where he resides, at each match between Nice and OM. Justice also gives him the obligation of care, in particular in relation to alcohol which could be linked to his behavior on August 22, and that of working or looking for a job. The request for non-registration in the criminal record was rejected.
On the side of the Nice club, the disciplinary commission of the Professional Football League sanctioned Nice with three games behind closed doors and the withdrawal of one point after this chaotic meeting against Marseille, which will have to be replayed on Wednesday, October 27. The Gym’s first match at the Allianz Riviera with again the public will be this Saturday against Brest.