General indignation, disciplinary committee seized… The songs of Nice supporters mocking the former Nantes striker Emiliano Sala, who died in a plane crash, sparked an outcry in French football tired of the excesses. The ultras from the Côte d’Azur pleaded for the “second degree”, without regret.
The ultras from Nice defended themselves via a statement in which they lamented “that after an error, whether it may seem huge or not, depending on everyone’s thoughts, everything is called into question: media release from our coach and communication to the haste of the club with harsh words to discredit an entire group”. “While we obviously understand the emotion that the words of this song can arouse, the second degree is an integral part of ultra culture, a symbol of our self-mockery and of the casual spirit (sometimes too certainly) that is ours”, say assert the ultras of the Popular South, the group sending “once again its most sincere condolences to the family of Emiliano Sala”.
Wednesday May 11, four days after their Coupe de France final lost against Nantes, OGC Nice bounced back sportingly by overthrowing Saint-Étienne (4-2) in the French league. But the performance was largely overshadowed by the behavior of the Brigade Sud Nice (BSN), already singled out in August after the match against Marseille was interrupted. “He’s an Argentinian who doesn’t swim well, Emiliano underwater,” intoned part of the Allianz Riviera crowd around the 9th minute. A parody of the song “He’s an Argentinian, he doesn’t let go, Emiliano Sala” that Nantes supporters sing in honor of their former number 9, in every match and at this precise moment. “We are reaching heights in stupidity and indecency,” reacted Roxana Maracineanu, Minister Delegate for Sports, on RTL.
The Argentinian, 28, lost his life while on a private plane to Wales, where he had just been transferred to the Cardiff club. The machine was damaged in the English Channel on January 21, 2019, in difficult weather. Thursday, the Professional Football League (LFP) announced that the disciplinary committee had been seized following the report of the match delegate, who noted the incident. The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 18. The insults came “from a few people, but it wasn’t just three.” “But let them stay home with their bottles and their insults.” If that’s it, our society, we’re in deep shit, ”added Nice coach Christophe Galtier hot on Wednesday.
https://www.lepoint.fr/sport/chants-moquant-la-mort-d-emiliano-sala-les-ultras-nicois-assument-12-05-2022-2475408_26.php