three Lyon supporters in police custody for monkey cries and Nazi salutes in the stands of the Vélodrome stadium

The pre-football match between OM and OL at the end of October was punctuated by several incidents, in particular the stones being thrown at the buses of players and OL supporters. An investigation was also opened concerning Nazi salutes thrown by Lyon supporters.

Three Olympique Lyonnais supporters were arrested in Lyon and placed in police custody on Tuesday December 5 as part of the investigation concerning monkey cries and Nazi salutes thrown in the stands of the Vélodrome stadium on October 29 before the match of Ligue 1 football between OM and OL, franceinfo learned from the Marseille prosecutor’s office, confirming information from RTL. It was the video surveillance images that made it possible to identify them, specifies the prosecutor, Nicolas Bessone.

The three people are in police custody for “racial insult because of origin, ethnicity, nation, race or religion”, “public incitement to hatred or violence because of origin, ethnicity, nation, race or religion” and “introduction, wearing or exhibition in a sports venue of badges, signs or symbols inciting hatred against a person because of their origin, ethnicity, nation, race or religion”, specifies the prosecution.

Aged 27, 33 and 34, the three supporters present themselves as employees or technical executives. Two of them say they are close to the Mezza supporters group, a small far-right group.

Match canceled

The match between Marseille and Lyon was canceled due to the stones of the buses of OL players and supporters of this club en route to the Vélodrome stadium by Marseille supporters. Fabio Grosso, who was then OL coach, was injured in the face by shards of glass. He had 12 stitches. No arrests have been made at this stage for the stone-throwing of the OL bus.

For the stone-throwing of Lyon supporter buses, on the other hand, two Marseille supporters were arrested. One, aged 22, was sentenced on November 23 to a four-month suspended prison sentence and a stadium ban for three years. The second, aged 50, will be judged on January 23, 2024.

The OM-OL match will be replayed on Wednesday December 6, in the evening, at the Vélodrome stadium without Lyon fans. Tuesday, December 5, Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin banned their travel.