OGC Nice Players ‘Badly Beaten Up’ By Own Fans in Racist Team Bus Attack

Ligue 1 outfit OGC Nice suffered their sixth straight loss on the weekend as they faced a 3-1 defeat to Lorient on away soil and, as the team bus arrived back at the club’s training ground on Sunday night, hundreds of angry Nice supporters were waiting to confront the players and staff. The likes of Terem Moffi and Jeremie Boga, formerly of Chelsea, were among those attacked.

INEOS-owened Nice, managed by Franck Haise, took the lead in the 12th minute courtesy of an Arthur Avom own goal, but Lorient’s Laurent Abergel levelled proceedings around the half-hour mark. Sambou Soumano then scored two goals either side of the half-time interval to take home all three points.

Watch the highlights from OGC Nice’s 3-1 loss to Lorient below:

For Nice, it marked their fourth consecutive defeat in the league after recent losses to Paris Saint-Germain, Metz, Marseille and now Lorient. Recent defeats to Freiburg and FC Porto in the Europa League have also heightened the frustration among the Allianz Riviera faithful – and there were reportedly hundreds of fans waiting for the players as they returned from their dismal 3-1 loss to Lorient.

400 OGC Nice Fans Waited for Franck Haise’s Side at Training Ground After Recent 3-1 Loss to Lorient

According to a report from The Athletic, around 400 angry Nice supporters gathered at the club’s training ground as they gathered at the entrance – where the players’ cars were parked – and waited for the players as they flew back to the city’s airport from the northwest of France. Sources close to the situation claimed that some players were physically assaulted.

The players, according to the sources, were shocked by the club’s lack of protection and security. Currently sat 10th in Ligue 1 after a torrid start to the campaign, Nice fans – as reported by Ici Azur – chanted “Move your ar***!” and called on Florian Maurice to hand in his resignation.

Club President Fabrice Bocquet was also subject to abuse from the club’s fanbase, but he had parted ways with his players at Nice airport, a decision that has not gone down well with the club.

Matt Spiro, a France-based reporter and writer, took to X (formerly Twitter) on Monday to report that supporters entered the team bus in frustration with Moffi and Boga – who played just once for Chelsea – being among those who were ‘attacked’ alongside sporting director Florian Maurice. He wrote:

Spiro then added: “RMC reporting that after getting off the bus, Moffi and Boga were subjected to racist abuse, spat on and punched multiple times in the face and private parts.”

Historically, Boga is not a popular figure for Nice supporters after he invited a number of Marseille fans into his side’s home ground for their 5-1 loss to Roberto De Zerbi’s side on November 21. As a way of apologising, he took to Instagram to write: “At no time, believe me, was it my intention to show disrespect toward Nice supporters. However, I understand the disappointment this may have caused. To all those I may have hurt, I offer my apologies.”

Nice Manager, Franck Haise, Speaks Out About Nice’s Prospects

Nice’s 3-1 defeat to Lorient was a low point in Haise’s career. “I’ve been coaching different groups for 23 or 24 years, and this is the first time I haven’t been able to get them to gel as a team,” he said, per French publication L’Equipe. The manager, following Nice’s 5-1 loss to Marseille, offered to resign – but that was quickly denied by the club higher-ups.

The French side, who finished fourth last season, then suffered a 3-0 loss to Porto in Europe’s second-tier competition, extending their streak to 17 games without a win in Europe. With matches against Angers and Lens on the horizon, Haise also claimed the club are now in a relegation battle.

Recently, Bocquet spoke to the club’s media to insist that behind-the-scenes work is ongoing on a daily basis. “There is work to be done on a daily basis to improve things. The winter transfer window will be an opportunity that could help us, but it should not be seen as the solution to all our problems. One thing is certain: letting Franck go is not the answer.”