'Unacceptable!' - Referee apologises for stopping Ligue 1 match over confusing anti-ISIS chants as 'homophopic' and sparks furious reaction from Nice

The Ligue 1 match between Nice and Lyon ended with a thrilling 3-2 victory for the home side but the celebrations were marred by a confusing and emotional incident late in the game. In the 87th minute, referee Jerome Brisard abruptly interrupted play due to chants coming from the stands, which he deemed "insulting." The chant in question - "Daesh, Daesh, we'll f*ck you" - is a customary, strongly worded anti-terrorist slogan used by Nice supporters at every home match to commemorate the victims of the 2016 attack, an atrocity later claimed by the Islamic State (Daesh). The referee's decision sparked immediate fury from the club and its leadership, which viewed the interruption as an egregious lack of sensitivity and respect for the victims and the city.

Nice president Bocquet did not mince words in his condemnation of the incident, labelling it "unacceptable" in a statement published on the club's website. Bocquet called the stoppage a 'lack of respect for the victims of July 14, their families, and the entire city of Nice.'

"This is unacceptable. It's a lack of respect for the victims of July 14, their families, and the entire city of Nice. Not just OGC Nice. We had a very difficult time with this moment. This interruption of the game, like the ultimatum given to our announcer to take the microphone to stop this demonstration or the match would not resume, should never have happened. It was a lack of preparation and sensitivity, and it should never have happened, which the delegate agreed. The referee apologized. We will take the necessary steps this week with the FFF, Philippe Diallo, and Antony Gautier (the refereeing director) to ensure this never happens again," said Bocquet in the post-match press conference.

The strong public reaction emphasised the deep emotional scars the 2016 attack left on the community, making the anti-Daesh chant a solemn, if controversial, part of their matchday ritual.

French refereeing director Antony Gautier quickly addressed the controversy, defending referee Brisard while acknowledging the mistake. Gautier explained that the referee's action was a direct result of the FFF's strict, "zero tolerance" instructions regarding discriminatory abuse.

"I spoke with Jerome briefly after the match, and while he clearly heard 'we f*ck you', he was unable to hear the first word, namely the term Daesh, Antony Gautier told us. If he had been aware of the context, he would not have, exceptionally, stopped the match. Mr. Brisard became aware of it when Franck Haise shared the information with him. The referees have very clear instructions from Philippe Diallo, the president of the Federation. They must stop a match for homophobic, racist, or discriminatory chants. It's zero tolerance," argued Gautier.

Gautier further backed the referee for just doing his job and blamed the miscommunication for the error: "When you're focused on your match, it's not easy to know or hear what's happening in the stands. The referees have very clear instructions from Philippe Diallo, the president of the Federation. They must stop a match for homophobic, racist or discriminatory chants. It's zero tolerance. The referees can't know the habits of all the supporters' clubs here and there. Once again, if he had been informed, he wouldn't have stopped the match exceptionally. It's common sense."

The on-pitch action saw Nice secure a vital 3-2 win over Lyon, moving them up the Ligue 1 table to the 10th position. Goals from Melvin Bard and Sofiane Diop gave Nice the lead, before a crucial second-half penalty save by goalkeeper Yehvann Diouf shifted the momentum. Hicham Boudaoui sealed the victory before a late Lyon goal.

Despite the celebratory win, the match will be remembered for the controversial interruption. On the evening of July 14, 2016, a terrorist drove a 19-ton truck into crowds gathered on the Promenade des Anglais, killing 86 people and injuring over 400. The attack, for which the Islamic State later claimed responsibility, left a profound emotional scar on the city of Nice.