The Red Tigers, a group of ultra supporters of RC Lens, reacted to the announcement made on Sunday by Gérald Darmanin. The Minister of the Interior affirmed, to the media Brut, that Sevilla FC supporters will be prohibited from going to Lens on Tuesday, for the Champions League match between the two teams at the Félix-Bollaert stadium.
The Red Tigers speak of their “stupefaction” at this announcement. “For you and your prefects, the travel ban is an easy solution, used indiscriminately, and which is becoming disproportionate and difficult to justify,” denounce the Red Tigers, who describe these orders as “unfair and liberticidal.” .
Above all, Lensois supporters insist on the lack of respect towards Andalusian visitors. “Sevillian supporters have already booked and paid for their means of transport, their seats and their hotel nights and do not have to suffer from your incompetence,” the press release continued. “Faithful to the strong values of welcome, hospitality and conviviality of the mining basin and faithful to the Ultra principles which make us work towards popular and united football, we will therefore make sure to welcome the supporters of Seville even if it means leaving our places to bring them into our stands,” promise the Red Tigers.
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Lensois supporters recall that their trips to Seville, Eindhoven and London went off without a hitch this season, and are surprised that France cannot ensure management as qualitative as that of its European neighbors. Gérald Darmanin’s decision comes in a tense context between football authorities and the executive on one side, and supporters on the other. The former, worried about an increase in violence, notably following the death of a Nantes supporter on December 2, banned five trips out of the nine Ligue 1 matches this weekend.
Sevilla FC also reacted on Sunday evening to Darmanin’s comments. “The club has not received any official communication from the French authorities or UEFA and believes that this measure will be detrimental to its supporters and will create a dangerous precedent in terms of fan travel,” predicted the Spanish club. And to add his intention, first, to “transmit a formal complaint to UEFA” as to how to proceed and the very tight timing, then to take “steps with the Spanish government”.
The meeting between Lens and Seville is scheduled for this Tuesday at 6:45 p.m., as part of the 6th and final day of the Champions League group stage. Both teams can no longer qualify for the round of 16. The Sang et Or only need a draw to secure third place in the group ahead of Sevilla and thus be transferred to the Europa League.