Nephew of Monaco’s Prince Albert ‘feared for his life’ and was left with a number of accidents after getting caught up in a brawl with Galatasaray followers at Champions League match
The nephew of Monaco’s ruler Prince Albert I ‘feared’ for his life and was left with multiple injuries following a brawl he was involved in following Galatasaray’s Champions League match against Monaco, a court has heard.
The December 9 incident at Stade Louis-II in Monaco saw Louis Ducruet sustain injuries after brawling with a Turkish father and son, named by local media as Hasan B. and Selman B.
Tensions between Turkish and Monegasque supporters are said to have been simmering throughout the match, especially in the VIP lounge.
Fans from both teams got into verbal and small physical altercations with each other for the duration of the match.
But it was only after the final whistle blew that the brawl erupted, as Ducruet’s friend headed for the bathrooms.
Prosecutors alleged that Selman B. said something in Turkish that was taken as an aggressive provocation, triggering the scrap.
Though there was no CCTV capturing the incident, medical reports shown to the court claimed Ducruet suffered injuries to his face, chest and arms, while one of the defendants suffered minor injuries.
The Monegasque royal told the court: ‘I feared for my life. If I had taken that punch, I could have collapsed, been knocked out. I was afraid of being lynched.’
President of AS Monaco Dmitry Rybolovlev and Prince Albert II of Monaco celebrate the goal for Monaco during the Champions League match between AS Monaco (ASM) and Galatasaray A.S. at Stade Louis II on December 9, 2025 in Monaco, Monaco
The December 9 incident at Stade Louis-II in Monaco saw Louis Ducruet , seen here with his uncle Prince Albert II, sustain injuries
But Selman B. told the court he had been acting in self-defence, claiming that one of Ducruet’s friends had aggressively approached him, before Prince Albert II’s nephew grabbed him by the throat.
He claimed: ‘I felt like I was choking and tried to defend myself’.
Following two days in detention, the court gave both Hasan B. and Selman B. two-month suspended prison sentences, and three year bans from the region.
The pair were also ordered to pay €1,000 to three victims, including Ducruet.
Ducruet is the son of Princess Stephanie and Daniel Ducruet, making him a member of Monaco’s ruling Grimaldi family.
His grandmother was legendary Hollywood actress Grace Kelly, who through marriage became Princess of Monaco.
His grandfather, Prince Rainier III, ruled Monaco from 1949 until his death in 2005, a reign spanning 56 years.
