The president of French football club Nice says he is “relieved that everything turned out well” after a Ligue 1 player reportedly threatened to throw himself off a bridge in an apparent suicide attempt on Friday.
French news media RMC Sports And Nice-Matin reported on Friday morning that the professional footballer had been brought to safety by firefighters after several hours of negotiations with the player at Magnan Bridge.
Police officers and a psychologist from the Ligue 1 club were also involved in helping the suicidal player talk.
Nice chief Jean-Pierre Rivere provided an update on the player’s well-being via the club’s website on Friday afternoon.
“Above all, we are relieved that everything turned out well for the player today,” he said in a club statement.
Jean-Pierre Rivere (above), the president of French club Nice, says he is ‘relieved that everything turned out well’ after a team player reportedly threatened to throw himself off a bridge
The professional footballer from Nice, who plays for the Allianz Riviera (pictured), has now been declared safe after police officers and a psychologist from the club persuaded him.
“He was taken care of. We continue to respect medical confidentiality and ask everyone to do the same and respect their privacy.
‘We support him, but also that of the entire club.’
Nice-Matin reported that the young player was suicidal after breaking up a relationship, although this was denied by his representatives.
French exhaust Direct foot quoted the player’s agent as saying: ‘The stories about the romantic break-up are false. This has absolutely nothing to do with it and is out of context.”
BFMTV said the footballer was standing on the 100-metre high Magnan viaduct, located on the A8 motorway northwest of the city of Nice.
The Magnan Viaduct carries the A8 around the southern French city of Nice (file photo)
The player reportedly stopped on the side of the road and threatened to jump off.
The club decided to cancel Friday’s press conference with manager Francesco Farioli, while ‘crisis talks’ were taking place behind the scenes.
Brest boss Eric Roy, speaking at his press conference ahead of his side’s match with Nice on Sunday, said: ‘I would like, as well as the entire club, to give my support to Nice in relation to the current events.
‘I hope it turns out as well as possible. My heart goes out to them.’