In the aftermath of the government announcements aimed at tightening the screws against violence in stadiums, French football was once again the scene of scenes of chaos. Friday, December 17, the meeting between Paris FC and Olympique Lyonnais (OL) could not be completed, after fights caused by Lyon supporters during the break. The clashes triggered crowd movements in the stands of the Charléty stadium, the invasion of the field and the intervention of the police. And, barely three weeks after the interruption of the match between OL, already, and Olympique de Marseille, following a bottle of water thrown at Dimitri Payet, a new match is interrupted.
For once, Ligue 1 – the French championship – is not concerned. It is the venerable Coupe de France, oldest of football competitions in France, which was the victim of the action of some supporters, which illustrates the evil that is eating away at the French round ball.
Difficult to establish, immediately, who ignited the powder. What the images and the numerous testimonies posted on social networks from the stands attest is that the incidents come from the Lyon parking lot. A small group of hooded supporters who arrived after the kick-off wreaked havoc on the stadium in the south of the capital, shattering the plexiglass walls separating their stands from the others.
They then attacked the surrounding supporters, causing a crowd movement. Overwhelmed, the stewards could not prevent the situation from igniting – while several lit smoke were sent by Lyonnais to the neighboring stands, where there were families. The police took time to intervene, and many panicked spectators tried to escape the violence by passing through the stadium lawn.
Very big incidents at half-time of #PFCOL between Lyon supporters and the Parisian public. Very few stewards p … https://t.co/p13xaGERgy
“He must stop with shared responsibilities”
If Jean-Michel Aulas strongly condemned “Things you should never see in a football stadium again”, he could not plead “The isolated act”, as he had done during OL-OM. Quick to defend his club, the Lyon president insisted, during an improvised press point, on the fact that Lyon “Does not have to take full responsibility for incidents”, evoking an irruption of “PSG supporters” which would have triggered the excesses, and the reaction of the OL ultras.
However, the one who was suspended ten games at the start of the week (including five closed) for his behavior towards the referee during OL-OM does not absolve the fans of his club. “A lot of elements show me that we have a responsibility and that we are going to clean up, he hammered. We are going to seek the truth and the club has decided to file a complaint. If our supporters are involved, they will be severely sanctioned. ”
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