President of French club Nice admits he’s ‘relieved that everything ended well’ after one of their players ‘threatened to throw himself off a bridge in an apparent suicide attempt’ – with the footballer now out of danger

• A professional footballer was involved in an apparent suicide attempt on Friday  
• The player threatened to throw himself off the 100 metre-high Magnan Bridge
• Nice released a statement after cancelling its press operations for the day 

The president of French football club Nice says he’s ‘relieved that everything ended well’ after a player from the Ligue 1 side reportedly threatened to throw himself off a bridge on Friday in an apparent suicide attempt.

French news outlets RMC Sport and Nice-Matin reported on Friday morning that the the professional footballer had been taken to safety by firefighters after several hours of negotiations with the player on Magnan Bridge.

Police officers and a psychologist from the Ligue 1 club were also involved in helping talk the suicidal player down.

Nice chief Jean-Pierre Rivere provided an update on the player’s wellbeing via the club’s website on Friday afternoon.

‘Above all, we are relieved that everything ended well today for the player,’ he said in a club statement.

Jean-Pierre Rivere (above), the president of French club Nice, says he’s ‘relieved everything ending well’ after a player from the team reportedly threatened to throw himself off a bridge

The professional footballer from Nice, who play at the Allianz Riviera (pictured), has now been reported as safe after police officers and a psychologist from the club talked him down

‘He was taken care of. We will continue to respect medical confidentiality and we ask everyone to do the same and respect their privacy. 

‘We are in his support as well as that of the entire club.’

Nice-Matin reported the young player was suicidal following the break-up of a relationship, though this has been denied by his representatives.

French outlet Instant Foot quoted the player’s agent, 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 stood on the 100 metre-high Magnan viaduct, located on the A8 motorway to the north-west of the city of Nice. 

The Magnan viaduct carries the A8 around the southern French city of Nice (file picture)

The player reportedly pulled up by the side of the road and threatened to jump off.

The club decided to cancel Friday’s press conference with manager Francesco Farioli, with ‘crisis talks’ going on behind the scenes.

Brest boss Eric Roy, who was speaking during his press conference ahead of his side’s game with Nice on Sunday, said: ‘I would like to give, as well as the entire club, my support to Nice with regard to the current events.

‘I am hoping that it ends as well as possible. My heart goes out to them.’ 

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