Illustration during the Ligue 1 McDonald's match between Nice and Metz at Allianz Riviera on May 17, 2026 in Nice, France. (Photo by Loic Baratoux/FEP/Icon Sport)
For the return leg of their Ligue 1 playoff clash, OGC Nice will face AS Saint-Étienne in an empty Allianz Riviera. This decision follows a ruling by the French Football Federation’s (FFF) Appeals Superior Committee, which upheld the sanctions imposed on the Côte d’Azur side after crowd incidents during a May 17 match against FC Metz.
harsh sanctions for the club
The FFF initially handed Nice a three-match punishment: two full stadium closures and one suspended game. However, the Appeals Committee revised this to two enforced closed-door games and a suspended point deduction for the 2026/2027 season.
The club expressed its strong dissatisfaction in an official statement, calling the measures “an aberration”. They highlighted their full compliance with authorities and the praise they received from LFP delegates for their handling of the situation.
club vows legal action
Nice announced plans to seek conciliation with the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF). Should this fail, the club reserved the right to escalate the matter to the Administrative Court to challenge the ruling.
The return leg’s closure means the entire playoff outcome will hinge solely on athletic performance—stripping the fixture of its usual atmosphere. For the Niçois, this adds pressure to an already decisive fixture for their sporting future.
