OL’s football director, Vincent Ponsot, came to the press this Friday to discuss the decision of the disciplinary committee to declare itself incompetent, after the incidents in Marseille on October 29, and that of the disciplinary committee. competitions to replay the match on December 6, at the Vélodrome, with the public.
“The disciplinary committee made a political decision by declaring itself incompetent on the pretext that these incidents took place outside the stadium,” said Ponsot. But for a football player, a coach, to be attacked outside the stadium, this has never happened in France. We cannot fail to mark the occasion, and the commission has all the tools to take advantage of it. The old article 129 of the general regulations states that all clubs are responsible for the behavior of their supporters. It was for clubs to commit to the safety and behavior of supporters, but this article does not talk about territoriality. 400 meters from the stadium, we know that they are OM supporters, and an ambush, with pétanque balls. The commission made the political choice not to put a finger in it, but I can’t understand it for a coach who almost lost his eye. »
The Lyon manager confirmed that OL were going to appeal: “We are not going to stop there. We owe it to our players and staff. What we suffered two years ago, the point withdrawn, the debate on the lost match, we do not want OM to suffer. But we want to be able to play football without being afraid or risking anything. We don’t want a sporting sanction, because the Marseille players have nothing to do with it. We want to play on neutral ground. » With an audience? Ponsot did not answer this question. Will OL go to Marseille if nothing changes? “We’re not there yet. We will see the outcome of the appeals and we will talk about it with the players and the staff. »
On the link between the incidents and the match, he continues: “They are Marseille supporters. Two appeared immediately, two Fanatics. And the “Support for those arrested” banner at the stadium at the following match clearly shows the link between supporters and the perpetrators of violence. Likewise, the League suggests putting a delegate on the bus, in general: it is good that it feels concerned by the journey to the stadium. »
“And what do we do next time if something worse happens? »
Corentin Tolisso, OL midfielder
Vincent Ponsot attacked a letter from the prefect of Bouches-du-Rhône, a letter on which the competitions commission relied to reschedule the match with the public at the Vélodrome on December 6. “It demands three things: a ban on OL supporters, a better secure bus with double glazing and anti-blast, and choosing our hotel in consultation. So it’s our fault. A coach almost lost an eye and the only lesson is that we, OL, must do things differently. If the message is that everything that happens outside the stadium has no consequences, we will have to take responsibility for it. »
Corentin Tolisso arrived at a press conference just behind, and shared his leader’s indignation: “I don’t understand this decision, it is not thought through. Our coach almost lost an eye, I find that really or there is no sanction. I was inside the bus and I can tell you that I was scared. We had already been told, last time, that everything was going well. And what do we do next time, if the windows are broken again, if something worse happens? Yes, I’m afraid something will happen. I don’t understand what to expect to sanction. So we’re going to go back there as if nothing had happened…”
