While the atmosphere provided by Saint-Étienne’s supporters was arguably the most memorable aspect of the initial Ligue 1 playoff match against OGC Nice, the return leg at Allianz Riviera this Friday will regrettably unfold without any spectators.

The French Football Federation’s (FFF) Superior Appeals Commission upheld the closed-door sanction imposed on OGC Nice this Wednesday. This decision follows disruptive incidents that occurred during the club’s match against Metz on May 17.

Initially, the penalty comprised two firm closed-door matches and a third suspended fixture. This has now been adjusted to two definitive complete closed-door matches, alongside a suspended one-point deduction for the 2026/2027 season.

“a particularly severe measure”

“While acknowledging the reported events, the club views the imposed sanction as an absurdity, especially considering the proactive measures we have taken, our consistent cooperation with relevant authorities, and the effective management of the situation, which was even commended by the LFP delegates present at the match,” the Nice club stated in a bitter press release.

“For OGC Nice, being compelled to play a potentially decisive playoff for the club’s future and sporting survival behind closed doors already represents an extremely harsh punishment. To deprive an entire stadium of such a pivotal encounter is, in our opinion, a particularly severe measure, impacting both sporting performance and emotional connection.”

The club has already declared its intention to “engage the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF) to seek conciliation,” and further stated that “should this approach prove unsuccessful, it reserves the right to pursue legal action before the Administrative Court to assert its rights.”