the police headquarters prohibits the union gathering near the Stade de France, where Emmanuel Macron is expected on Saturday

The Paris police headquarters has banned the rally planned by the CGT near the Stade de France on Saturday evening for the final of the French football cup which will be attended by President Emmanuel Macron, according to an order published on Friday April 28. The inter-union of Seine-Saint-Denis intended to distribute 30,000 red cards and 10,000 whistles for a “red card” operation during this event. Spectators are asked to brandish their cards bearing the inscription “not retired at 64” and to whistle in the 49th minute, in reference to 49.3.

The prefecture justifies this ban on several grounds: non-compliance with deadlines for declaring a gathering (three full days), possible disruption of a sporting event with the announcement on social networks of the distribution of whistles (whistle being prohibited in sports arenas so as not to disturb the refereeing) and wish to avoid any politicization of a sporting event.

Sophie Binet calls for bringing her own red cards

It is “a serious violation of civil liberties”reacts on Friday on franceinfo Kamel Brahmi, secretary general of the CGT 93, who disputes “all the arguments of the prefecture” and ensures that the activists have “planned to be a reasonable distance from the stadium”. The CGT will file an interim release to challenge the decree, he says.

“Prohibiting the distribution of leaflets is new to my knowledge”, reacted the secretary general of the union, Sophie Binet, also on franceinfo. Confirming the legal action, she also calls on the spectators “to come themselves with their whistles and red cards”.