An extraordinary backpedal. Originally banned by prefectural order to travel to Dijon, for the resumption of Ligue 2, 400 Saint-Etienne supporters were finally able to witness the defeat of the Greens (2-1), sSaturday July 30. The conditions of their arrival were still strictly framed by another decree. To reach the Gaston-Gérard stadium, they had to take a bus escorted by police, without the possibility of going to the city center. “It was the best solution and it was validated by the Saint-Etienne supporters”points out Frédéric Carre, secretary general of the prefecture of Bourgogne Franche-Comté.
The latter justified this measure by “the overflows” observed during ASSE’s last official match, against Auxerre. However, there was no animosity between Dijon and Foréz supporters. In fact, the meeting took place without the slightest incident. In a statement, the Association for the Defense of Stéphanois supporters (bringing together the three ultra groups) welcomed “dialogue between stakeholders”.
“We can only welcome the dialogue between the stakeholders…”, press release from the groups of Stéphanois supporters
For AD2S, two couriers left in the direction of @Prefect76 & @ prefect59 in order to organize the next two trips intelligently. pic.twitter.com/YIwARx2ZyN
— Association for the Defense of Stéphanois Supporters (@AD2Sasso) August 4, 2022
This decision, even accompanied by the restrictive prefectural decree, contrasts with the trend observed in the 2021-22 season. At least 129 trips by fans to follow their team away have been restricted or supervised, according to a tally of the National Association of Supporters (ANS). According to the latter, it is unheard of since the 2015-16 season, a period marked by the establishment of a state of emergency following the attacks in Paris and in front of the Stade de France.
“Some matches are complicated to organise, such as Marseille-Paris or Lyon-Saint-Etienne”notes Pierre Barthélémy, lawyer for the National Association of Supporters. But decrees are issued without any rivalry, sporting or “in the stands”, justifying them at first sight.
In October 2021, Marseille supporters, for example, were unable to go to Clermont… even though the two teams had never met in the league. “They also forbade Nantes residents to come to the Vélodrome, even though there is no animosity, remembers Mathieu, member of the ultra group MTP (‘Marseille Tout Puissant’). For hot trips to Lyon, Saint-Etienne or Paris, I understand, but for the rest…”
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“It is also up to the clubs to ensure that the most passionate supporters are calmer”, tempers Frédéric Carre. Overflows including visiting supporters are sometimes to be deplored. “But the world of supporterism sold to people is not realitycontinues the faithful ultra Marseille. People think it’s a violent world where everyone fucks. I am 44 years old and I am a father, I have passed the age!
“There can be idiots like everywhere, but above all there are very good stories”, observes Hippolyte, a young supporter from Rennes. This 21-year-old accountant travels across France with his girlfriend to support the Rouge et Noir. “At first she was the only woman, now there are about thirty of them”, he smiles. Not really known to be “hot”, Rennes supporters are relatively spared from the arrests.
To make matters worse, the decrees are often issued a few days before the meetings. “I work in a travel agency, so I can put options on train tickets. But otherwise…”sighs Valentin, a Messin accustomed to travel. “As a result, we are starting to get used to anticipating”continues the thirties.
Like him, other supporters buy tickets in the “classic” stands, in the middle of the fans of the team playing at home. Their safety is, in fact, less assured there than in visitor parking.
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In most cases, prefectural decrees prohibit visitors from displaying any element of support for their club when they are in the city center, at their opponents. “This was the case in Angersreports Hippolyte. I still went there with my jersey, and on arrival, Angevins took pictures with me…” For him, these decrees “useless”. Some even see it as a form of “laziness” prefects.
“In 90% of cases, it is clearly a prefect who does not want to bother organizing a trip upstream or managing it on D-Day”
Pierre Barthélémy, lawyer for the National Association of Supportersat franceinfo: sport
These scenarios are all the more talked about when compared to the rules in the rest of Europe. “In Rotterdam, everything was under controlrelates Mathieu, in reference to the match between OM and Feyenoord, in the semi-final of the Europa League conference in April 2022. There was a fan zone with food and drink, everything went well.” Same story with Hippolyte, who attended the Rennes match in London in March 2019, in the knockout stages of the Europa League: “We were 6,000 against Arsenal, I was a little apprehensive. I thought there would be incidents, but it was handled very well by the police.”
In France, on the contrary, more than one feedback criticizes the attitude of the forces of order. “The police sometimes think they’re cowboyssighs the garnet supporter Valentin. In Lille, in 2014, we were searched by dogs, they took out tear gas when we were festive. It was our first game in Ligue 1 for six years!”
“Before a match in Nantes, the leaders of the association went down to talk to the police. They ended up with batons and eleven stitches in total!”
Hippolyte, supporter of Rennesat franceinfo: sport
These statements recall the incidents on the sidelines of the last Champions League final at the Stade de France. The government then widely castigated the behavior of English supporters, denying any responsibility for the police. The new Minister of Sports, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, “‘thanks’ to these events, revived the topictestifies the lawyer Pierre Barthélémy. She relaunched the National Support Authority, met actors. From the echoes that we had, she was very attentive“.
This glimmer of hope is in line with advances planned before Covid-19. Thus, in the fall of 2019, a circular from the Ministry of the Interior stipulated that the prefects limit travel bans.
A report tabled in May 2020 in the National Assembly by deputies Marie-George Buffet (PCF) and Sacha Houlié (LREM) also goes in this direction. Alas, the 2020-21 season was largely played behind closed doors. The various incidents that occurred during the last financial year did not allow the positive signals to materialize. “We are confident that these orders will decreaseassures Pierre Barthélémy. But we are so high, it can only go down!”