Rennes-AC Milan: red and black banned for Italian supporters, the prefectural decree sows trouble

If the nearly 10,000 Rennes supporters experienced a wonderful celebration during their trip to Milan for the first leg, the Italians will not be sure of being able to do the same in Brittany.

Classified as risky by the authorities, the meeting between AC Milan and Stade Rennais, on behalf of the return play-offs of the Europa League, was logically at the origin of a decree communicated by the prefecture of Ille-et -Naughty this Wednesday. In particular, it imposes restrictions on the 1,300 Milanese supporters within the Breton city.

“On Wednesday February 21, 2024 from 3:00 p.m. to Thursday February 22, 2024 at 11:59 p.m., it is prohibited for any person claiming to be a supporter of the AC Milan club or behaving as such, to wear in particular a scarf, a badge, a clothing, a flag in the colors of this club, to drive or park on public roads,” we can read in the texts.

The Milanese will therefore not be able to wear red and black, the colors of their club… shared by Stade Rennais. A surreal situation which could lead, if we overinterpret the decree, to preventing Breton supporters from dressing in their traditional colors within their city itself.

Despite everything, the police should be able to discern between the two badges, the Rossoneri procession being, on top of that, very supervised upon their arrival at the airport.

Increased risk of overflow

The prefecture justifies these decisions in particular by the antecedents attributed to Milanese supporters during various European trips during the 2023-2024 financial year. She notably recalls the stab wounds suffered by a PSG supporter and a Newcastle supporter at the start of the season, both caused during clashes with the Italians.

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Milanese friends, welcome to Rennes! Here is your guide to discover the capital of Brittany, its flagship club and organize your visit. #Roazhoneri #SRFCACM

— Stade Rennais FC (@staderennais) February 20, 2024

The prefecture also considers “that a dispute currently opposes the Rennes ultras of Roazhon Celtic Kop (RCK) and Milanese Curva sud Milano around the authorship of the “el banditi” emblem used by the two supporters’ clubs, the Rennes ultras accusing Italian ultras of plagiarism.

Beaten 3-0 at San Siro in the first leg, Julien Stephan’s players will have a lot to do if they want to hope to qualify for the round of 16 of the Europa League.