EUROPA CONFERENCE LEAGUE. In an atmosphere of chaos, OGC Nice conceded a draw against the Germans of Cologne.
A sad sight. Before the Europa League Conference meeting between Nice and Cologne, violent incidents broke out in Nice and the stadium. Shortly before 6 p.m., several hundred hooded German supporters left the stand reserved for the 7,800 FC Cologne supporters to cross the stadium, passing in front of the presidential box, and do battle with the Nice kop. As a result, 32 people were injured, including two police officers and a steward, and four hospitalized, according to a report from the prefecture established around 10:30 p.m.
The atmosphere is totally degenerating in Nice! An hour before the match against Cologne, clashes broke out at the Allianz Riviera. The German supporters tried to join the Niçois to fight it out. A supporter fell from a stand and seems seriously affected. pic.twitter.com/1rM2JsHDO2
– RMC Sport (@RMCsport) September 8, 2022
On the pitch, the Aiglons conceded a 1-1 draw, but Lucien Favre’s men wanted to play the game. It’s disappointing, infuriating to see that. it shouldn’t exist. In addition, there was a person who was seriously injured I believe. It’s incredible. I have never seen that. We weren’t sure we were playing. But I think we had to make this game. I was in favor of playing. We were happy to play this match for the simple reason that there is no possible date after. But yes, we were surprised at what happened. It’s very rare to see that. There were PSG supporters? I was told about it. I don’t know enough about what’s going on to talk about it clearly. But it is not possible to see such things. Our supporters have nothing to reproach themselves for. I don’t fear a stadium suspension. It would be too unfair. “
The group stage of the Europa League Football Conference is played from Thursday September 8, 2022 to Thursday November 3, 2022 while the knockout stage will be played from Thursday February 16, 2023 to Thursday May 18, 2023. As for the final, it is scheduled for June 7, 2023 at the Eden Arena in Prague (Czech Republic). The calendar was then drawn up as follows by UEFA:
- Groups
- Day 1: September 8, 2022
- Day 2: September 15, 2022
- Day 3: October 6, 2022
- Day 4: October 13, 2022
- Day 5: October 27, 2022
- Day 6: November 3, 2022
- Direct elimination
- Knockout stage play-offs: February 16 and 23, 2023
- Round of 16: March 9 and 16, 2023
- Quarter-finals: April 13 and 20, 2023
- Semi-finals: May 11 and 18, 2023
- Final: June 7, 2023 at the Eden Arena in Prague (Czech Republic)
In addition to the only French representative of the competition, the favorites were also spared. Thus, Villareal, semi-finalist of the last Champions League will face the Israelis of Hapoel Beer-Sheva, the Austrians of Austria Vienna and the Poles of Lech. West Ham, his side, have been placed in the same group as Anderlecht, Romania’s FCSB and Danes Silkeborg. Dutch side AZ Alkmaar will meet Cypriot side Apollon Limassol, club Liechtenschein Vaduz and Ukrainian side Dnipro-1. In group A, a great duel in perspective between Istanbul Basaksehir and Fiorentina, refereed by the Scots of Hearts of Midlothians and the Latvians of FK RFS. Finally, FC Basel, another contender, will go to Slovakia to challenge the Slovan Bratislava, in Lithuania with Zalgiris Vilnius and in Armenia with Pyunik.
- Group A: Istanbul Basaksehir (TUR), Fiorentina (ITA), Hearts of Midlothians (ECO), FK RFS (LET)
- Group B: West Ham (ENG), FCSB (ROU), Anderlecht (BEL), Silkeborg IF (DAN)
- Group C: Villareal (ESP), Hapoel Beer-Sheva (ISR), Austria Vienna (AUT), Lech Poznan (POL)
- Group D: Partizan Belgrade (SER), FC Cologne (GER), OGC Nice (ENG)FC Slovakia (RTC)
- Group E: AZ Alkmaar (PBS), Apollon Limassol (CHY), FC Vaduz (LI), SK Dnipro-1 (UKR)
- Group F: KRC Genk (BEL), Molde FK (NOR), Shamrock Rovers (IRL), Djurgarden IF (SWE)
- Group G: Slavia Prague (RTC), CFR Cluj (ROU), Sivasspor (TUR), FC Ballkani (KOS)
- Group H: FC Basel (SUI), Slovan Bratislava (SLQ), Zalgiris Vilnius (LIT), FC Pyunik (ARM)
As last season, UEFA has awarded the French TV rights for the 2022/2023 Europa League Conference to RMC Sport, M6 and Canal+ which will ensure the broadcast until the end of the 2023/2024 season. Canal + will co-broadcast with M6 the poster for each Thursday and RMC Sport offers all the remaining matches. M6 will broadcast the final scheduled for June 7, 2023 in clear. During the 2024-2027 period, this is Canal + who bought the broadcasting rights.
The Europa League Conference 2021-2022 is the new European competition launched by UEFA and therefore the third international competition for European clubs after the Champions League and the Europa League. Its first edition was launched for the 2021-2022 season. It groups European teams according to their results in the league or in the national cup. The winner of the Europa League Conference qualifies for the Europa League the following year.
184 teams play in the competition throughout the season, including at least one from each of UEFA’s 55 member associations and 46 from the UEFA Champions League or UEFA Europa League according to the UEFA website. ‘. The group stage consists of:
- 17 teams from the UEFA Europa Conference League main path
- 5 teams from the UEFA Europa Conference League Champions Path*
- 10 teams eliminated in the UEFA Europa League play-offs
A group phase (eight groups of four) is therefore organized before a knockout phase (round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and final). The eight group winners qualify for the round of 16. A play-off is played between the eight runners-up and the teams that finish third in their UEFA Europa League group.