Partizan ‘Humiliated’ by fan’s death

Partizan Belgrade have expressed their “anger” and humiliation after the death of Toulouse fan Brice Taton.

The 28-year-old was injured in clashes in a bar ahead of the two sides’ Europa League opener on September 17 and died in a Belgrade hospital on Tuesday.

Toulouse angrily called for justice following the news of the death, warning: “The time will come when this outburst of violence on the outskirts of sport has to be severely punished.”

Partizan have now echoed those calls, and a statement on their official website read: “Our anger, as sports people of good will, is enormous.

“Brice Taton is no longer with us. Brice will leave Belgrade in a coffin, while we remain here in shame, leaving us to face ourselves with our own being and consequences.

“Partizan FC expresses hope that Belgrade and Serbia will never again witness such tragedy, which at this evil hour left us all silent and humiliated human beings.”

In an open letter to the French Embassy in Belgrade, club general secretary Darko Grubor added: “We are shaken by the news of Brice Taton’s death and we plead with you to accept our sincere condolences.”

Those sentiments were repeated in a second open letter to Toulouse, in which Grubor also stated: “Our club would like to attend Brice’s funeral and we plead with you to inform the Taton family of our intentions. We will respect any decision coming from Brice’s family.”