DistantNews
Support us
🇰🇷 South Korea /Conflict & Security

Lyon’s Far-Right Supporters Accused of Attacking Fans of Color

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • Anti-racism groups filed a complaint after several alleged racist assaults linked to Olympique Lyonnais matches.
  • A 17-year-old student and a local councillor were among those attacked near the club’s stadium, according to reports.
  • Lyon condemned the violence and pledged a zero-tolerance response toward racist supporters.

A 17-year-old student leaving football training was allegedly beaten by about 40 masked men near Olympique Lyonnais’ stadium after shouting racist abuse at him. The student suffered fractures to his jaw and nose and received a medical assessment saying he could not carry out normal activities for 30 days.

The incident was one of several attacks reported around Lyon matches. Anti-racism groups SOS Racisme and Sportitude filed a complaint with prosecutors, asking them to investigate whether the assaults were motivated by the victims’ backgrounds.

They nearly killed my son. They completely trampled him.

· Mother of the 17-year-old victimShe described the attack in a social media video.

That same night, Meryem Boucheda, a 21-year-old councillor from the Lyon suburb of Rillieux-la-Pape, was attacked after leaving the stadium with an employee of a club partner. She said a group of five or six intoxicated people shouted racist insults before punching and kicking her companion. Boucheda said attackers later targeted her as well. She suffered wrist fractures and was assessed as unable to carry out normal activities for 15 days.

Boucheda told RMC Sport that the attackers said, "Don’t worry, that dirty Arab was getting cocky," while other supporters stood by. In a Facebook post, she asked how an elected official could become the victim of racist violence in France while dozens of people watched.

The victims’ backgrounds must be fully investigated when violence is committed because of their origins.

· SOS Racisme and SportitudeThe groups called for prosecutors to examine the racist motive behind the attacks.

Investigators suspect that white-supremacist supporters connected to Lyon may have organized the violence. Le Monde also reported that about 70 masked people attacked the anti-racist and anti-fascist supporters’ group Antifa Lyon before the match, leaving two people on the ground. The group said repeated ambushes had forced its members to enter the stadium together.

Lyon, a seven-time French top-flight champion, has faced repeated controversy involving far-right supporters. The club condemned the attacks, promised a zero-tolerance policy and offered legal assistance to Boucheda.

Don’t worry, that dirty Arab was getting cocky.

· Reported attacker, according to Meryem BouchedaBoucheda said the remark was made after other supporters approached the attackers.
About this summary

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

More Stories

From Our Blog