Will the ultras make their return to the stands of the Mosson? The question arises when the two Hérault groups, Armata and Butte, who boycotted the enclosure since the start of the season in Ligue 1, due to the establishment of the sanitary pass they denounce, have just opened the door.
Indeed, the two entities have just published a press release, in which they do not rule out a possible return. Members are due to vote soon. Sylvain, one of the spokespersons for the Butte, explains it to Bertrand Queneutte.
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Why open the door to a return today?
Because at some point, you have to decide whether or not to return. We were really waiting for the government’s position after November 15, but as we have seen, it only extended the health pass. We were quite disappointed with this. We really thought they were going to lighten it up. So we have to make decisions. We take the temperature in groups, different people, inserts, etc., and opinions are divided. For the moment, I repeat it loud and clear, nothing is happening. We must continue to see each other. We made a first press release where we can see a return, but for the moment, there is nothing. We have to weigh the pros and cons, that everyone agrees with that. In any case, the time is for reflection.
Does that mean you are going to vote?
That’s it. We are in perfect democracy.
Hailed, respected or strongly criticized, has your position become difficult to hold? In the press release, you call yourself “lonely”.
Yes, it became difficult, but it became so very, very quickly, because we thought we were going to be followed by all the groups. And in fact, not at all. There are only a few groups that followed, who followed suit, but quickly returned to normal. Knowing that among the large groups of French supporters, whether in Marseille, Lyon, Paris, etc., there is still a financial windfall in the middle of all this. If they don’t make it to the stadium, there is a huge loss, so they run their group like a business. This is not our case. And so it’s easier for us to go on strike. After, we are right in our sneakers, we can look at each other in a mirror. The fight, we launched it, we led it, and we remain consistent in our mentality. We think that these are things that are against freedoms. The thing being that it’s still less, I think, liberticide than one might think, because ultimately, whether we have a pass or not, most people go to restaurants, with the pass of a coworker. We are therefore not deprived of many freedoms. We still manage to live. As it was announced at the start, it was normal, one could not more normal, than to dispute it. But over time, we can see that we are not in North Korea either.
So there you have it. There is also the fact that we miss the stadium. And I will be severe in saying that, but it is not the 4 pilgrims who go to the gallery and who launch songs that will replace us one day. So we really need to take our place, that’s my point of view. These people, the day we get there, we won’t see them anymore. Us, it’s not fictitious, it’s not reality TV. Ultra, it’s everyday, we live like that. It’s not about putting on a disguise on the weekends. Unfortunately, there are those who have not understood it. I was also disappointed by that, I thought that the movement would be more followed within our forum. That’s why I allow myself to name them like that: pilgrims.
How do you see the start of the season for this “new” Montpellier?
I find that we are not doing too badly, anyway, despite the defeat this weekend. I think the new coach is in place. The players listen to him. Afterwards, I am not a football specialist, everyone in their place. For me, it’s the results that count and we will count the points at the end of the season. In the meantime, it’s not too bad. Now, when you change coaches, it’s to get something better. So I’m waiting to see the end of the season if it’s better than Der Zak or not. Delort’s departure stirred up so much shit that it took a while to get over it and there, I think that’s it: we have definitely turned the page. And we have to look ahead.