Assault of Daniel Nivel

On 21 June 1998, Daniel Nivel, member of the National Gendarmerie, was assaulted in the city of Lens by German football hooligans during the 1998 FIFA World Cup.

Four others were tried in Essen, a city in their own country, and found guilty, with one being jailed for ten years for attempted murder, and the others receiving shorter sentences for serious bodily harm.

After Germany's 2–2 draw with FR Yugoslavia at the Stade Félix Bollaert, 43-year-old Nivel was one of three members of the National Gendarmerie attacked by hooligans.

[3] In November, all four were found guilty: Zawacki was sentenced to ten years in prison for attempted murder; Reifschlaeger, Renger and Rauch were convicted of serious bodily harm.

[7] On 14 June 2006, Nivel was the DFB's guest of honour for the 2006 FIFA World Cup game between that country and Poland at the Westfalenstadion in Dortmund; he was seated next to Chancellor Angela Merkel.