The Portuguese club explains that it took this decision in response to the ban on the travel of its supporters to Marseille for the return match, decided by the French authorities.
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Less than 48 hours before the Europa League quarter-final first leg in Lisbon, Benfica canceled, on Tuesday April 9, the tickets sold to OM supporters who planned to make the trip. For the Portuguese club, this decision comes in response to the travel ban imposed by the French authorities against its fans in view of the return match at the Vélodrome.
“Faced with this atmosphere of potential risk of insecurity (…). [Benfica] deeply regrets the decision of the French authorities, communicated only today, which calls into question the spirit of European competitions by depriving them of the presence of supporters, the very essence of football”, indicated the current 2nd in the Portuguese championship. The Lisbon club therefore called on OM supporters not to travel to Portugal and asked its own fans not to travel to Marseille.
Olympique de Marseille reacted in a press release and “considers that a favorable outcome is still possible and continues, as has been the case for several days, to do everything possible in the interest of its supporters so that they attend Thursday’s meeting in Lisbon”. On Sunday, the two clubs issued a joint press release calling on the authorities of their two countries to allow the travel of their respective supporters.
