80 Nice fans defy advice to travel to politically-unstable Moldova | OneFootball

80 OGC Nice fans are expected to attend Les Aiglons’ Europa Conference League tie against Sheriff Tiraspol in Moldova, despite travel to the politically-unstable Eastern European country being unadvised.

According to L’Équipe, 80 Nice supporters are expected at the Sheriff Sports Complex on Thursday night as their team face Sheriff Tiraspol in the Europa Conference League. They will make the trip despite no official trips being organised by the club’s supporters groups.

Tiraspol just 70km away from the Moldovan capital of Chisinau, is currently experiencing heightened tensions, leading the French travel minister to advise against any travel to the country. Le Gym have also echoed that sentiment, advising their supporters to avoid making the trip to the unstable region.

Tiraspol is in the Transnistria region, which claimed independence back in 1990. The region borders Ukraine, and Russia’s invasion, which began back in February 2022 has further destabilised the region to the extent that Sheriff’s last Europa Conference League game, against Serbian side Partizan Belgrade, was played behind closed doors due to fears of a coup.

Moldova’s president, Maia Sandu, accused Montenegro, Belarus and Serbia of supporting Russia, and fearing an influx of Serbian fans for the game, it was decided that the fixture would be played in front of no spectators. Despite advice to the contrary, there will be both home and away fans for Thursday’s fixture.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle