Paris (AFP)
Sports Minister Roxana Maracineanu, exfiltrated from the Saint-Ouen stadium on Friday evening after being heckled by supporters, said on Saturday "too much violence from a minority of people".
"What happened yesterday (Friday) is a summary of what can happen in society. There has been an overflow of violence from a minority of people," said Roxana Maracineanu told AFP.
"Initially, people had a message to pass on the current social situation. I was there to listen to them, to be able to relay it. Then others came to chat with me."
"At that time, a dozen people surrounded us, and put a hood over our heads. It became intimidating. I preferred to leave," said the minister.
Roxana Maracineanu, present at the Bauer stadium with her husband and friends, said that she had paid 12 euros to attend the match between the Red Star and Quevilly-Rouen in National (third division).
She indicates having spent the first period with the club president and the mayor of Saint-Ouen in the lodges. The incident took place at half-time, while she was preparing to follow the second period with her relatives in the stands.
"I wanted to take advantage of my presence at the stadium to discuss with club president Patrice Haddad and the mayor of Saint-Ouen about the stadium renovation project, because the Red Star which is four points behind the leader is in a position to get in Ligue 2. In this case, the stadium will have to be brought up to standard. We can envisage things because the stadium is near the future Olympic Village, see if it can serve as a preparation center for the Olympic Games and obtain the support of the ministry and of the Solideo (responsible for the building sites of the Olympics), "she said.
"I find it unfortunate to get there. No one has a social monopoly. As Minister of Sports, I feel as much as they (the people who heckled her, editor's note) in my place in a precinct sporty, "said Roxana Maracineanu, first world champion in the history of French swimming, in 1998.
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