Is it to punish their supporters that the Ligue 1 clubs scored only 15 goals this weekend? France’s ultra groups have once again raised concerns among authorities since incidents in successive clubs have continued in recent weeks.
Adopting the schoolmaster's tone on the sidelines of a general assembly of the French Football Federation (FFF), Saturday December 14, Noël Le Graët gave a few strokes of the rule on the fingers of the rascals: "It is time to take things in hand. For two months, we have the impression that it's gone (the disorder) and don't move too much ", annoyed the president of the FFF.
Fire sources have multiplied since the fall, whether they are linked to the sports situation of the clubs – Toulouse, Lyon, Nice -, to degraded relations with the management – Bordeaux, Dijon – or to questions related to stadium security – Paris-Saint-Germain.
Sunday evening, the 20the The anniversary of the Magic Fans, the main ultra group of AS Saint-Etienne, gave rise to a spectacular ignition of smoke bombs accompanied by fireworks – a rare and potentially dangerous practice. If the spectacle was greeted by the players, it was not the case of the discipline committee of the Professional Football League (LFP): Monday, it imposed on Geoffroy-Guichard a closed camera as a precautionary measure, pending to know the measures taken by ASSE.
⚽️💥 – Incredible pyrotechnics in the north kop which literally shoots fireworks! #ASSEPSG #ASSE https://t.co/Ox0xHIPFDK
Pyrotechnic climbing
Smokers, banned in stadiums, remain the main source of tension between the authorities and the ultras, the latter considering pyrotechnics as an essential element in the animation of the stands. They are more brandished during big games or when a group of supporters celebrates their birthday than to show their dissatisfaction. In some cases, however, the use of smoke bombs, which is followed by heavy fines for clubs, can be a means of embarrassing management.
This weekend, Noël Le Graët sent back to back the clubs and their supporters: "It's up to club presidents to make their security better and to the League (LFP) to take the first sanctions. We are completely out of step with the rest of Europe. The Federation cannot remain insensitive. "
In fact, the League is far from remaining inactive. The supporters even criticize the disciplinary committee for its excess of zeal, they who demand the end of collective sanctions. Since August, before the Saint-Etienne episode, it has pronounced eleven grandstand closings, plus four suspended, for Ligue 1 – according to a count by the National Supporters Association (ANS). A very high figure at this point in the season.
