Turkish Fans Attack Armenian Footballers with Knives in France, After Losing 2-0

On Sunday, September 29, a disturbing incident took place during a district football match in France between the Turkish community's FC Turquoise and the B team of Homenetmen Valence, an Armenian football club. What began as an ordinary match turned violent when Turkish fans stormed the field and attacked the Armenian players with knives. This shocking attack happened after Homenetmen Valence took a 2-0 lead in the first half, with no signs of hostility leading up to the attack.

As tensions escalated, the Turkish supporters, unhappy with their team’s trailing position, charged onto the pitch and physically assaulted the Armenian footballers. Two Armenian players were injured during the attack and had to be hospitalized. Although their injuries were treated, the assault left both players and spectators shaken by the level of violence.

The supporters who invaded the field were reportedly armed with knives, leading to serious concerns about the safety of players in such community matches. The incident is being seen by many as racially motivated, with tensions between the Turkish and Armenian communities possibly contributing to the violence.

J-Christophe Buisson, Deputy Director of Le Figaro Magazine, commented on the severity of the attack. He stated, "During a district football match, Turkish supporters, unhappy to see their team, FC Turquoise, trailing 2-0 against the French-Armenian club from Valence (Homenetmen), attacked the Armenian-origin players with knives. This is called a racially motivated attack.”

The French-Armenian community and organizations are speaking out about the incident. The Coordination Council of Armenian Organizations of France (CDCA ANC France) also confirmed that the two hospitalized players were attacked by both Turkish fans and players during the match. CDCA ANC France told The Armenian Report that both players are now in stable condition and are expected to recover.

While the incident has left a deep scar on the football community, the broader implications are worrying. Racially motivated violence and the use of deadly weapons in sports events are not only shocking but raise serious questions about the need for better security and regulation in local sports leagues. 

As investigations continue, authorities will likely look into whether this attack was premeditated and how best to prevent such acts from happening again. Many in the Armenian community fear that this is a sign of deeper tensions that could resurface in future matches, making it imperative for both local authorities and football associations to take this matter seriously.