Bad Gones clarify stance after incident involving OL councilwoman

Bad Gones and Kop Virage Nord have issued a statement to set the record straight following an incident on 29 August at Groupama Stadium during OL–Le Havre. According to local councillor Meriem Bouchedda, she and her partner were assaulted outside the stadium for racist motives—a claim that she later reported and that OL condemned in a statement at the time, as reported by RMC Sport.

Response after accusations

Bouchedda said the attack was carried out by a “group of supporters” who allegedly repeatedly insulted them. She also stated that at the time of the incident “no police officers or security agents were present,” adding that her partner was prescribed 15 days of ITT. She further said she herself was violently hit and that she filed a complaint, according to RMC Sport.

In their communiqué, Bad Gones insist their association or any of its members are in no way involved and that the racism allegations raised by the victim “were not retained” against the two accused.

Court timeline and legal steps

The group also says they asked the victim—who publicised the case and, in their view, damaged the image of the association—to issue public apologies by recognising she had simply mistaken the identity of her assailants. They add that, despite several facts being established and made public since Monday 7 September, she did not respond to their request. Bad Gones say they are taking “all necessary measures” to join the case as a civil party and are looking into possible legal action for defamation, per RMC Sport.

The Lyon public prosecutor’s office confirmed that the two arrested suspects will stand trial in February for “group violence” causing incapacity for work (ITT): more than eight days for the councillor and no more than eight days for her partner. The prosecutor did not retain the notion of racism. RMC Sport also notes that a third individual was released without charges, and that just before the match against Le Havre two other people—including a 17-year-old—were assaulted near the stadium, though no element so far links the two sequences.