Cap-d’Ail Residents Express Outrage Over OGC Nice Supporters' Behavior After Derby
Following a derby between AS Monaco and OGC Nice, residents voice concerns about disruptive actions of visiting fans.
The 108th derby between AS Monaco and OGC Nice, held on March 31, 2025, concluded with AS Monaco's 2-1 victory.
However, incidents involving OGC Nice supporters in the nearby town of Cap-d’Ail have drawn significant criticism from local residents.
The match drew a large contingent of supporters from Nice to Cap-d’Ail, a town of approximately 5,000 residents located mere meters from the Louis-II stadium.
Local residents reported disturbances beginning before the match, with fans arriving hours in advance of the scheduled 21:05 kickoff.
Many had flocked to Cap-d'Ail in various modes of transport, creating a noticeable presence as they gathered near the beach at Marquet.
Numerous complaints detailed experiences of distress among the residents of the Marquet area, particularly due to the large assembly of fans—some estimates suggest up to 2,000 supporters attended the game.
One anonymous resident expressed their fear, stating, "I lived through hell, I was shaking," indicating the atmosphere felt overwhelming.
Another resident mentioned the presence of smoke flares and fireworks, which contributed to an atmosphere described as more celebratory than comfortable for nearby inhabitants.
The declaration of "a human tide" arriving in their community was made by a resident who observed supporters congregating directly in front of private residences.
Descriptive accounts included reports of mortar fireworks, which resulted in debris damaging property.
One resident recounted witnessing small pieces of her building's façade fall into her garden as explosions occurred nearby, leading to a sense of terror as "the sky turned red" with smoke.
Other community members corroborated these experiences on a local WhatsApp group aimed at fostering neighborhood vigilance.
They shared collective frustrations, with one resident recalling their own previous experience feeling unsafe due to flares landing on their terrace.
As the derby crowd moved towards the stadium around 19:00, the aftermath left behind significant litter, including glass shards and remnants of pyrotechnic devices.
In response to the disturbances, Cap-d’Ail’s mayor, Xavier Beck, expressed his exasperation with the behavior of OGC Nice supporters, stating that the situation has worsened annually.
Beck has announced intentions to petition the prefect of Alpes-Maritimes for a ban on future mass gatherings of Nice's fans in the area.
In his statements, the mayor highlighted that supporters' actions disrupted daily life and posed a potential danger, calling for heightened measures to prevent future incidents.
He emphasized the challenges local law enforcement faces in managing such large crowds and pointed out that with the current resources, adequate supervision is difficult.
Following the match, local government and public security authorities confirmed there were no incidents reported once supporters had crossed into Monaco.
However, incidents involving OGC Nice supporters in the nearby town of Cap-d’Ail have drawn significant criticism from local residents.
The match drew a large contingent of supporters from Nice to Cap-d’Ail, a town of approximately 5,000 residents located mere meters from the Louis-II stadium.
Local residents reported disturbances beginning before the match, with fans arriving hours in advance of the scheduled 21:05 kickoff.
Many had flocked to Cap-d'Ail in various modes of transport, creating a noticeable presence as they gathered near the beach at Marquet.
Numerous complaints detailed experiences of distress among the residents of the Marquet area, particularly due to the large assembly of fans—some estimates suggest up to 2,000 supporters attended the game.
One anonymous resident expressed their fear, stating, "I lived through hell, I was shaking," indicating the atmosphere felt overwhelming.
Another resident mentioned the presence of smoke flares and fireworks, which contributed to an atmosphere described as more celebratory than comfortable for nearby inhabitants.
The declaration of "a human tide" arriving in their community was made by a resident who observed supporters congregating directly in front of private residences.
Descriptive accounts included reports of mortar fireworks, which resulted in debris damaging property.
One resident recounted witnessing small pieces of her building's façade fall into her garden as explosions occurred nearby, leading to a sense of terror as "the sky turned red" with smoke.
Other community members corroborated these experiences on a local WhatsApp group aimed at fostering neighborhood vigilance.
They shared collective frustrations, with one resident recalling their own previous experience feeling unsafe due to flares landing on their terrace.
As the derby crowd moved towards the stadium around 19:00, the aftermath left behind significant litter, including glass shards and remnants of pyrotechnic devices.
In response to the disturbances, Cap-d’Ail’s mayor, Xavier Beck, expressed his exasperation with the behavior of OGC Nice supporters, stating that the situation has worsened annually.
Beck has announced intentions to petition the prefect of Alpes-Maritimes for a ban on future mass gatherings of Nice's fans in the area.
In his statements, the mayor highlighted that supporters' actions disrupted daily life and posed a potential danger, calling for heightened measures to prevent future incidents.
He emphasized the challenges local law enforcement faces in managing such large crowds and pointed out that with the current resources, adequate supervision is difficult.
Following the match, local government and public security authorities confirmed there were no incidents reported once supporters had crossed into Monaco.
