World Cup: Tragedy as boy run over and killed as fans celebrate France's win over Morocco

News Express |15th Dec 2022 | 543
World Cup: Tragedy as boy run over and killed as fans celebrate France's win over Morocco

The boy was run over as France fans celebrated in the centre of Montpellier file picture



A 14-year-old boy has been run over and killed in the southern French city of Montpellier shortly after France's World Cup semi-final victory over Morocco.

Authorities said he was struck by a car after the match and then died in hospital.

Images on social media showed a car draped in a French tricolour surrounded by people who then grabbed the flag.

The driver then appeared to panic, accelerating into two teenagers.

As he turned his car around and sped off, the 14-year-old was hit and went into cardiac arrest.

"Immense sadness that a sporting event should end in total tragedy," said local MP Nathalie Oziol, who expressed her sympathy with the boy's family.

The local prefect in the southern Hérault area said the car was later found abandoned not far from the scene of the accident, and police have begun searching for the driver.

Mayor Michaël Delafosse said everyone was appalled and in shock at "this terrible tragedy", and wished that perpetrators of "this cowardly act" be brought to justice.

Local MP Patrick Vignal said the driver had to be caught and severely punished.

The incident happened in Montpellier's north-western district of La Paillade, around half-an-hour after the final whistle in Qatar, where France beat Morocco 2-0.

Tensions between France and Morocco supporters briefly spilled over in the centre of the city as flares were lit and police responded with tear gas. France has a large Moroccan community of some 1.5 million people.

Celebrations in cities across France were largely peaceful, although police used tear gas to halt trouble involving far-right youths in the centre of Lyon.

Ten thousand police were deployed across the country and a reported 167 arrests were reported nationally. (BBC)

Comments

Post Comment

Sunday, October 12, 2025 9:11 AM
ADVERTISEMENT

Follow us on

GOCOP Accredited Member

GOCOP Accredited member
logo

NEWS EXPRESS is Nigeria’s leading online newspaper. Published by Africa’s international award-winning journalist, Mr. Isaac Umunna, NEWS EXPRESS is Nigeria’s first truly professional online daily newspaper. It is published from Lagos, Nigeria’s economic and media hub, and has a provision for occasional special print editions. Thanks to our vast network of sources and dedicated team of professional journalists and contributors spread across Nigeria and overseas, NEWS EXPRESS has become synonymous with newsbreaks and exclusive stories from around the world.

Contact

Adetoun Close, Off College Road, Ogba, Ikeja, Lagos State.
+234(0)8098020976, 07013416146, 08066020976
info@newsexpressngr.com

Find us on

Facebook
Twitter

Copyright NewsExpress Nigeria 2025