Troubles in Nice following France victory over Morocco | OneFootball

The final whistle in France’s World Cup semi-final victory over Morocco represented the starting gun for trouble in the Riviera city of Nice, where fires were lit and bins were overturned before tear gas dispersed the crowds, as witnessed by Get French Football News’ Luke Entwistle.

Photo by Luke Entwistle

Just after 22:00 local time, as the crowds spilled onto the streets following France’s 2-0 victory over Morocco, many lit flares, let off fireworks and sung the Marseillaise to celebrate Les Bleus’ progression to Sunday’s World Cup final against Argentina. Goals from Théo Hernandez and Randal Kolo Muani mean that France have a shot of becoming the first team to win consecutive World Cups since Brazil pulled off the fear in 1962.

Photo by Luke Entwistle

Whilst the scenes in the city centre of Nice, in Cours Saleya and in Place Masséna were largely well-mannered and jovial, there were problems on the city’s central axis, Avenue Jean Médecin, where bins were overturned and two fires broke out.

Photo by Luke Entwistle

A relatively young crowd, many of whom were dressed in black and wearing balaclavas charged towards the Avenue soon after the final whistle. According to Nice-Matin, some were chanting “Nissa, Nissa” (Nice, Nice). Police reinforcements arrived at around 22:30 to allow the fire department to work on extinguishing the fires, whilst tear gas, indistinguishable from the smoke issuing from the fireworks and flares was also fired to disperse the crowds. According to Nice-Matin, order in the area was restored at around 11:30.