Since the start of the season, a new group has appeared in the Auteuil corner of the Parc des Princes, the “Beriz Crew”. This new kid physically takes the place of the LPA, self-disbanded during the summer. Internally, certain choices of the direction of the collective raise questions with very different visions on the fights to be carried out.
A huge red and blue flag hangs over the Virage Auteuil, songs, a good atmosphere and two inscriptions on several banners: “Beriz Crew”. During the first match of the season, against Lorient (0-0), these newcomers made noise. In Arabic, “Beriz” means “Paris” and “crew” means “the crew” in English. This group physically replaces in the stands the LPA (Freedom for subscribers), who announced their self-dissolution during the summer.
This group, validated by the general assembly of the Collectif Ultras Paris, on July 8, brings together well-known faces from Virage Auteuil. Elders of “Gate 411” and “Laskars” are present and accompany young recruits. Many of them have wanted to join a group of Paris Saint-Germain supporters for several seasons.
Some former “Gate 411” who did not take part in this new adventure take a dim view of the creation of this group. With this arrival, the CUP now includes ‘Les Parias’, ‘Les Urbans’, the ‘Beriz Crew’, ‘Le Combat Continue’, the ‘K-Soce Team’ and independent members. A base that sometimes feels left out of the dynamics of the CUP.
The past turbulent months
These last few months have been turbulent within the Collective. The days of strike, at the beginning of May, marked the spirits. The most radical fringe was thinking of taking the lead in the movement. Finally, calm returned. Internally, the components were not all on the same wavelength on this subject. Overall, the members of the Collectif Ultras Paris interviewed now qualify the atmosphere as “good” within the movement.
From the outside, the CUP gives the impression of moving forward as a collective. The tifo deployed during the first day against Lorient still shows the unity of the turn. The move and the beautiful atmosphere in the parking lot a week later in Toulouse (1-1) also goes in this direction. Internally, the situation is different. The atmosphere is not deleterious, certainly, but the recent dissolutions show that the atmosphere between the movements is not as fluid as it may seem. This is not new, it has been going on for several months.
The highly scrutinized K-Soce Team
The K-Soce Team is the most powerful group in the CUP. “Romain Mabille is very present and comes from the K-Soce Team. Today this group is dominant and decision-maker”, continues a member of the CUP. It is especially outside the Collectif Ultras Paris that we want to reduce the power of this group. Some still keep some choices made across their throats. Different currents have therefore emerged with very different visions, for example on the relationship with the club’s management. At the start of the season, the criticisms that target the K-Soce Team are most often from non-insert (or more inset) supporters at the CUP.
This summer, another debate animates the most fervent supporters of Paris Saint-Germain, the positioning of the association on the Kylian Mbappé case. Since the general assembly, at the beginning of July, the collective has noted that it is waiting for the end of the transfer window and the progress of the file to position itself on this ultra-sensitive subject where everyone wishes to give their opinion.
“We will never allow the resurgence of a hooligan gangrene”
In the middle of summer, on August 1st, the CUP took the floor via a press release to react to the self-dissolution of ‘Nautecia Paris’. A strong press release where the management of the Collective attacks the method used. “The Nautecias have chosen to end their group in a surprising and dishonorable way,” the statement explains. Before releasing a frontal attack: “Unfortunately, their malicious intent has led to the end of their group (…) we will never betray our commitments and we will never allow the resurgence of a hooligan gangrene in Paris.”
Two days before writing this speech, the group “Nautecia Paris” had announced the “immediate dissolution” of their group after seven years of presence in the stands of the Park. To explain this departure, the management of “Nautecia Paris” had put forward “recent differences relating to the values of unity, the ultra mentality and the role of the group led to our exclusion”.
“It shows very clearly that there is a problem internally on the strategies and the actions to be carried out”, adds a close friend of the CUP. A split that also has its source in the tensions that erupted in April 2022, with the return to power of the K-Soce Team as the driving force behind the CUP.
“Positions too far away to continue the project”
On August 12, just before the resumption of Ligue 1, another group announced the cessation of its activity. The LPA (Freedom for subscribers), after 13 years behind the PSG, judged that the positions of the association were “too distant” on certain points vis-à-vis the project led by the management of the Collectif Ultras Paris.
Tensions were high between the groups. For example, the LPAs were friends with a group of Roma supporters. Problem, the K-Soce Team, majority within the CUP, has a friendship with fans of Naples. Inevitably, the differences have arrived. For the dissolution of “Nautecia Paris”, the management of the CUP has long accused its members of hooliganism.
The main reason for their expulsion is mainly to be found on the side of their relationships. Closeness with outsiders who don’t like the K-Soce Team. In this environment, relationships are key. Contacted, Romain Mabille did not respond to our requests.
Nicolas Pelletier and Arthur Perrot
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2023-08-23 13:40:02
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