“We would prefer that these restrictions be adapted to the format of the stadiums”, Jean-Luc Loignon

Unless there is new contamination within the workforce, the clash between ASM Clermont and Stade Toulousain on Saturday evening (9:05 p.m., on France Bleu Pays d’Auvergne) will take place in front of nearly 18,000 spectators.

But from Monday January 3, the Marcel-Michelin stadium will (re) go into crisis mode. It will be 5,000 people maximum in the stadium. A gauge which, for the time being, only impacts the reception of the English from Sale, on January 16 in the Champions Cup. The measure is only valid for a period of three weeks.

Until then the administrative and financial director of ASM Clermont relies on the National Rugby League to negotiate gauges proportional to the capacity of the stadiums. Interview with Jean-Luc Loignon.

France Bleu Pays d’Auvergne: let’s start with the reception in Toulouse on Saturday. What impact?

The gauge will be normal, since the restrictions only apply from Monday January 3. Simply with the standards that had been set before, especially on receptives. There are only seated services. The same goes for the refreshments, where you can only drink in seated places. But other than that, we stay on a classic pattern. Today, we have sold around 17,000 seats.

Does this story of a single gauge still pose a problem?

As I speak to you, there are all the professional leagues meeting to talk about this subject and the impacts. That there are gauges, we can understand, that can also be an interesting preventive measure. But what bothers us, as in previous decisions, is that a 5,000-gauge in a 20,000-seat stadium is not the same as a 5,000-gauge in a 10,000-seat stadium. So, we would prefer that these restrictions be adapted to the format of the stadiums, which would be more logical and would go to the desired goal.

Losses of around nine million euros over one season

Let’s talk about refreshments. The consumption of food and drink will be prohibited in the sports arena. It means a big shortfall there too.

The measures were announced by the government, but we do not have the accompanying texts, so we have to wait for them to find out what exactly is going on. Today, technically, you can have the refreshments, but people have to consume in a seated manner. There, it would seem that this is no longer the case for this part. It would be a shame, but hey, it may be prevention that is necessary. Afterwards, you have the appearance in the VIPs (lounges) where we are today on seated places. So we are on a diagram of restaurants, cafes and bars. So today, that was not called into question in the presentation made by the Prime Minister.

So, for now, you’re pretty calm …

Worried, but optimistic, you have to be anyway (laughs).

The previous period of closed doors or gauges weighed a lot economically. Did you quantify the losses for the club at that time?

Yes, very clearly. We had announced it to us, we were on the order of 9 million euros in losses over one season. So, it was very important and we are one of the clubs which has the most “ticket” and “hospitality” receipts. So, indeed, this shortfall was very significant. Afterwards, state aid and in particular the Professional Sports Aid Fund enabled the clubs to survive economically during this period. When we discuss with British or Irish clubs, they did not have the same conditions as us. So, on that side, I think that the decisions taken in France have allowed professional sport to emerge from it. Now, it shouldn’t last and be renewed, because I don’t know if the State will be able to help us so strongly.

The clubs playing at the moment are not checked

We talked about the gauge, the stadium, but we must also talk about the players.

This pandemic affected in particular Stade Français and ASM this weekend and it affected two other clubs before. We can clearly see that few clubs are immune. The clubs playing at the moment are not checked. So I think we will come back to more frequent checks. And with the speed of the spread of this virus, there are more worries about workforce management.

So, will it be necessary to monitor the players a little more closely?

I think it’s going to be necessary to have closer monitoring, yes.

Tested this Tuesday

In addition to these new health measures, the staff and staff of Clermont have been placed in isolation since the postponement of the Massif Central derby in Brive. Three players tested positive before the short trip to Corrèze.

In order to be able to resume training and prepare for the reception at Stade Toulousain on Saturday, the players and management must be subjected to a new round of PCR tests. They are carried out this Tuesday afternoon. The results are expected tomorrow.