They must have been between 25,000 and 30,000 to tumble down to Beaujoire, this Sunday afternoon, fill the stands and give voice to push FC Nantes to snatch its first victory against AS Monaco in its den since November 2017 and a tense strike from Lucas Lima at the end of the match. They will ultimately only be 5,000 after the government has decided to return the gauges to sports arenas. However, the number of staff mobilized will remain the same. Double the penalty for the Canaries who expect to face big financial losses.
Subscribers invited but who could desert
Needless to say, the return of a Beaujoire filled to 14% of its capacity is cringe. Evidenced by the banner “Gauge at 5,000: it will be without us“deployed by the supporters of the Loire Brigade, on the occasion of the 16th final of the Coupe de France against AS Vitré. The other associations have decided to leave the choice to their subscribers, authorized by FC Nantes to attend the premiere of Belgian coach Philippe Clément. “We decided to keep the four stands open: presidential, Océane high and low, Erdre et Loire, details Olivier Feneteau, safety and security director of the club. This implies that we mobilize the same number of stewards as if we were 8,000 or 10,000 in the stadium. “
It’s really not a very good financial deal and, anyway, I think we will have financial losses.
Between reception and security agents and hostesses present in VIP lounges, the eight-time champion club of France will mobilize around 250 people. “The problem with a professional football match is that you need a minimum of staff to organize it and being reduced to such a low level does not compensate for the costs of organization.“, justifies the”Sir“FC Nantes security. This should nevertheless make it possible not to attend the same scenes as in Lens, at the beginning of the week, where all the supporters were gathered in the same stand, despite the respect of barrier gestures.”There is really no risk of seeing such an episode again, the four stands being open“, assures Olivier Feneteau.
Draconian rules for food and drink
If the new protocol put in place by the Professional Football League, described as “bullshit” and “aberration“by Antoine Kombouaré, now makes it possible to no longer count the people who work – stewards, journalists, team staff, etc. – in the gauge, the rule for catering has not changed. The bars and points will be closed to la Beaujoire and it will also be forbidden to arrive at Beaujoire with your own food and / or drink under penalty of attending the same scenes as during the match between Vannes and Paris Saint-Germain where spectators were forced to throw everything when entering the enclosure.
“It’s really not a very good financial deal and, anyway, I think we will have financial losses.“, logically admits the head of safety and security of Yellow. Pending possible compensation already granted by the public authorities as had already been the case in 2020 and last year with more than 200 million euros paid to clubs as compensation for ticket office losses, FC Nantes will still have to deal with financial inputs to absent subscribers. At least until January 23.