The former president of Ajaccio is murdered at his mother's funeral: mafia, nationalism and football

Alain Orsoni, former president of AC Ajaccio and a Corsican nationalist leader who was charged with murder, was shot dead by a sniper during his mother's funeral in the village of Vero (Upper Corsica).

He was hit by a long-range shot

Nicolas Septe

The former political and football leader received three bullet wounds in front of 50 witnesses present at the funeral and died instantly.

"It was a moment of pain and grief. Suddenly, we heard a shot and Alain collapsed, dead"

Roger Polge

"He was hit by a long-range shot," prosecutor Nicolas Septe said.

Roger Polge, the priest who officiated at the funeral, told France 3 that "it was a moment of pain and sorrow. Suddenly, we heard a gunshot and Alain collapsed, dead."

The Public Prosecutor's Office is investigating Orsoni's murder as a planned action by an organised gang.

Alain Orsoni, a life marked by violence, attacks and murders

The former leader of the National Liberation Front of Corsica (FLNC), who had to live in exile for several years in Spain and Latin America, left the presidency of AC Ajaccio in 2025 after a decade in charge and amid financial problems.

Alain Orsoni's life was always marred by violence. In 2008 he survived an assassination attempt and in 1983 he lost his brother Guy (one of Corsica's most wanted fugitives) in an attack allegedly linked to the Corsican mafia.

The authorities linked Orsoni's nationalist political activity to a series of attacks in Corsica in the 1990s.

Orsoni was also accused, convicted and later pardoned in connection with a machine gun attack on the Iranian embassy in Paris in 1980.