On August 23, around a hundred Paris FC Ultras were present at the Vélodrome stadium during the first leg against OM. Between the two clubs, there are no particular antagonisms. But the proximity of the Parc des Princes and PSG necessarily changes the situation for this return match. Unsurprisingly, the police headquarters, its counterpart in Hauts-de-Seine and the Ministry of the Interior have issued orders to prohibit the movement of Marseille supporters for this match against Paris FC at Jean-Bouin but also that against PSG on February 8 at the Parc.
“There is a strong historical antagonism between PSG supporters, domiciled in the same city as the PFC, and OM, and there is a fear that PSG supporters will take advantage of the arrival of Marseille supporters to commit violence and attack them on their way or at the meeting venue, or that OM supporters will try to damage the PSG sports facilities, located near the Jean-Bouin stadium,” writes the Ministry of Defense. the Interior.
Consequently, it is “prohibited for any person claiming to be a supporter of Olympique de Marseille (or behaving as such), to access the Jean-Bouin stadium, to drive or park on public roads within a defined perimeter around the stadium, including the City of Paris and the commune of Boulogne-Billancourt”.
OM jerseys banned near Jean-Bouin
Paris FC also specifies that “access to the stadium will be refused to any person identified as a supporter of Olympique de Marseille or displaying a distinctive sign of the club”.
OM challenged the travel ban on its supporters by filing two appeals. Dismissed on Thursday by the Paris administrative court, he also saw his request rejected by the Council of State this Friday afternoon.
Despite everything, the match remains classified as risky (level 4) by the National Division for the Fight against Hooliganism. The presence of OM supporters remains feared in a Jean-Bouin stadium which will be sold out and where the Paris FC Ultras have been authorized to make their return since the match against Angers last Sunday (0-0).
Some Marseille fans were indeed able to obtain tickets by purchasing general public seats put on sale by Paris FC. This is what happened against Lyon (3-3) on October 29. The visitors’ parking lot was empty after the orders issued by the authorities but that did not prevent part of the stadium from getting up and roaring with pleasure during Lyon’s goals. There had been no notable incidents. But it’s a recurring fact: there are always a lot of opposing supporters, even outside the park, at Jean-Bouin. This was particularly the case against Nantes on October 24.
But with the arrival of OM, the risks of excesses are necessarily amplified. Paris FC has thus reinforced its system with a greater number of stewards than for a “normal” match. There will be 420 on the Paris FC side and more than 300 for the police.
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