The grandstand at the North corner of the Vélodrome stadium will be closed for OM’s next European match, in the semi-final second leg of the Europa League Conference against Feyenoord Rotterdam, on May 5. This is what UEFA said in a press release this evening. The entire grandstand will be closed, i.e. nearly 13,000 places.
The decision of the European authorities follows incidents noted between supporters in the quarter-finals against Paok Salonika, in Marseille. Clashes between OM and PAOK supporters took place the day before the quarter-final first leg between the two clubs and continued before and during the match. Thirty police officers were injured and a dozen people arrested.
98,000 euros fine for OM
During the match, several confrontations also took place between Marseille and Greek supporters. A banner “AEK Marseille” – named after the PAOK rival – was notably deployed by the Marseillais at the bottom of the south bend, which inflamed the Greek supporters.
The UEFA sanction is accompanied by two fines totaling 98,000 euros for “_lighting of smoke bombs_throwing projectiles“, public behavior and “blocking of public passages”.
The Greek club also sanctioned
The Greek club was also sanctioned witha fine of 50,000 eurosand it must support the reimbursement to OM of damages caused by his supporters who came en masse, there were nearly 3,000 in Marseille. The Velodrome visitor parking lot was indeed badly damaged, with many seats torn off. PAOK supporters will also be banned from the club’s next European trip.
After eliminating the Thessaloniki club (2-1/1-0), OM must face Feyenoord Rotterdam for a place in the final on May 25 in Tirana. The first leg should be played on Thursday April 28 in the Netherlands and the return match on Thursday May 5 at the Vélodrome.