Rennes supporters came in large numbers this Sunday, October 23, 2022 to the Raymond Kopa Stadium in Angers to support Stade Rennais during this 12th day of Ligue 1 and the 2-1 success against SCO Angers. But around twenty Reds and Blacks faithful were unable to attend Lovro Majer’s goal at the very end of the meeting. The reason: they were excluded during the meeting because they had celebrated the opener of Stade Rennais.
The scene takes place in the Pierre de Coubertin stand, behind a goal, where there is the Rennes parking lot and the ultra Angevin group. “Already at the start of the match, we felt a heavy atmosphere with a lot of police and security members”, explains Hugo, a regular at Stade Rennais. It was forbidden to wear a Stade Rennais jersey, scarf or cap depending on the measures taken by the prefecture of Maine-et-Loire, which had placed this match as a risk meeting.
It’s Amine Gouiri’s goal just before half-time that causes a series of expulsions as explained by Édouard, a student in Angers and supporter of Rouge et Noir. “I celebrate the goal a bit like I was at Roazhon Park and then there are two security people who grab my arm and just kick me out”laments the young Breton.
“I traveled more than 300km to come and see this match and I am obviously disappointed to go out at half-time. It’s only football”specifies Hugo, still angry at this treatment. “I can understand that people are asked to leave in case of a fight, but there, I did nothing, just sing. It’s a lot of frustration”he continues.
“Obviously the security was exceeded during the match”
Normally the supporters of this stand are placed in the visitor parking lot of 700 places. But there was already 900 people, forcing a hundred people was placed on the outskirts of it. Victor 27 years old came with his dad and his cousin. He finds himself sent off during the break as he came back from the toilet. “I was denounced by Angevin supporters and security asked me to leave immediately”.
Victor is however accustomed to major European matches, particularly at Anfield or the San Siro, where the animosity between the clubs is strong. He is surprised at the turn of events for a “single Angers – Rennes”.
The series of expulsions continued until the end of the match as Clément, one of the Rennes supporters, relates. “We even saw friends, some Angevins, other Rennais being kicked out for no reason. Security made no difference. If we had the misfortune to sing or applaud Stade Rennais, it was outside”he points out.
Finally he too will be expelled for having applauded one of Bruno Génésio’s players like around thirty other people. This is announced by the prefecture of Maine-et-Loire, which specifies that these rules had nevertheless been mentioned before the meeting.
The management of the Angers SCO did not respond to our requests.