“What existed in the stadiums has multiplied since the return of the public in July and August”, estimated Monday, August 23, on franceinfo, Nicolas Hourcade, sociologist, teacher at the Central School of Lyon, specialist in football supporters, after the incidents during the Ligue 1 match Nice-Marseille this Sunday evening. “What we saw this Sunday is an exacerbated virile culture which is problematic and which must evolve”, added the sociologist.
franceinfo: Were you surprised by these images?
Nicolas Hourcade : Yes, we are always surprised when faced with incidents of such magnitude. And then, they are particularly regrettable since it is the moment when the public can return to the stadiums. In fact, what we see is that this return has generated a lot of enthusiasm and also a lot of excitement. Since the start of the championship, it has given rise to both the best and the worst. At best, with fervent atmospheres, at worst with several incidents. One could not suspect that the security could be so overwhelmed. Today, the stake is easy to establish and not necessarily easy to ensure, it is to allow this festive atmosphere to continue to unfold while ensuring the safety of the actors, the supporters as the players. I believe that we can take the incidents differently and say that it obliges the supporters. When they claim their right, being also responsible is their duty. Their duty is not to create an incident.
So the explanation for you is excess enthusiasm from the supporters?
An excess of excitement, enthusiasm, both. The stadium has always been a space of expression, a kind of outlet in society. This function seems to have been reinforced over the recent period, that is to say that we have seen stadiums without an audience for a year and a half. This was strongly criticized and it helped to highlight the importance of the supporters. There is therefore a very strong impatience to come to the stadium and also an excitement which is also linked to the health and social context which is relatively anxiety-provoking. What we see is that there are both extremely strong festive events, an even stronger atmosphere than before the confinement, but there are also excesses that existed before but which are becoming more widespread. strong.
“We have the impression that, finally, what existed in the stadiums has multiplied since the return of the public in July and August.”
Nicolas Hourcade
to franceinfo
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The president of Nice, Jean-Pierre Rivère, insinuated Sunday evening that it is the Marseillais, finally, who would have provoked and that they were wrong not to return on the ground. Is the argument valid?
Already, what must be denounced are the throwing of projectiles and the physical violence of the supporters. But I think it was the whole football world that gave him a very bad image on Sunday night. It is also certain players and certain leaders who have slipped. The supporters who have fouled must be identified and sanctioned but the players and managers have shown culpable over-excitement and must also be sanctioned. What we saw yesterday is an exacerbated virile culture which is problematic and which must evolve. We cannot have such tension in all areas of football like Sunday.
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