Stéphane Burgatt (correspondent in Marseille), edited by Gauthier Delomez / Photo credits: Magali Cohen / Hans Lucas / Hans Lucas via AFP 06:42, 06 December 2023

The Olympiques clash between OM and OL, postponed after the Lyon bus was stoned at the end of October, takes place this Wednesday evening at the Stade Vélodrome. This match, classified as high alert, will take place without Lyon supporters. A decision by the Ministry of the Interior that delights, and also disappoints, the local residents met by Europe 1.

Classified as high alert, the match between Olympique de Marseille and Olympique Lyonnais takes place on Wednesday evening at the Stade Vélodrome, after having been postponed on October 29 due to the stone-throwing of the OL bus. Even if the Olympiques clash will be held this time without Lyon fans, according to a decision by the Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin, this match frightens some local residents met by Europe 1 like Michèle, who lives just at the crossroads where the bus was attacked.

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"I feel insecure here. I live right across the street (from the place where the stones were thrown). If I'd gone to the supermarket where I usually go, I'd have caught a rock in my head," says the Marseillaise.

"There will be no outbursts like last time"

In the neighbourhood, others are optimistic, such as Ahmed, the owner of a snack bar, reassured by the ban on the movement of Lyon supporters. "I think it's better, there won't be any outbursts like last time. We know that between OL and OM, there's always a bit of a mix-up, but this time, it went live," he recalls.

However, this travel ban saddens some Marseille supporters, like Mathieu. "Unfortunately, it's a shame they're not here because of two fools who threw three rocks. Idiots who want to break, who want to fight... It deprives other people of coming to see this beautiful game. For me, it's not the solution," said the OM fan.

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Enhanced security for OL players

As for the Lyon players, they came back with a vivid memory of the events. But they will see their security tightened: new coach Pierre Sage's men will stay in a hotel outside the city, and their journey will be in an unmarked bus with reinforced windows.

After the death of a Nantes fan over the weekend, Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra said she was in favour of banning fan travel in the event of a high-risk match. And according to information from Europe 1, the LFP, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Sports are expected to make announcements in mid-January.