Ligue 1: FC Nantes supporters are banned from traveling to Marseille on Sunday

Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin has banned the travel of FC Nantes supporters to Marseille for the epilogue of the 25th day of Ligue 1 scheduled between the two clubs on Sunday, according to a decree published in the Official Journal on Friday.

The measure is justified by “a real and serious risk of clashes between supporters of the two clubs”, indicates the decree, which specifies that the movements of Nantes supporters “are frequently sources of disturbances to public order”.

He mentions in support a dozen facts observed during or on the sidelines of previous meetings such as the “massive” use of pyrotechnic devices, “brawls” or “confrontation” with other groups of supporters. .

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Concerning Marseille supporters, the Minister of the Interior also mentions “violent behavior manifested by brawls between supporters, by violence against the police or by throwing firecrackers, smoke bombs or agricultural bombs”.

He also notes that the supporters of the two clubs “maintain relations marked by animosity resulting in serious clashes requiring the intervention of the police”.

Incidents had thus punctuated previous posters opposing Olympique de Marseille (7th) to Nantes (14th), notably on August 20, 2022 in Marseille, where seven supporters were arrested and placed in police custody for “use of laser, use smoke bombs, contempt of law enforcement, concealment of theft of accreditation issued by the Marseille club to a journalist,” specifies the decree.

On February 1, 2023 in Nantes, “despite the closure of the visitor parking lot (…) against Marseille supporters”, and despite a prefectural ban, some “500 Marseille supporters” had not complied with these decisions and an altercation even broke out between supporters of the two clubs “requiring the intervention of the police”.

The meeting between OM and FC Nantes will be played at the Vélodrome stadium on Sunday at the end of the 25th day of Ligue 1 which begins Friday with Nice-Montpellier.