Paris (AFP)

Empty bleachers in Lens until the beginning of October: the disciplinary committee of the League sanctioned the club on Monday from a closed door as a precautionary measure for at least two matches, pending the investigation into the "serious excesses" between Lensois supporters and Lille on Saturday.

At the start of the Ligue 1 season, the return of supporters to the stands is proving particularly stormy: after the clashes between Montpellier-Marseille and then Nice-Marseille, the disciplinary body of the Professional Football League (LFP) had to to address Monday the incidents during the derby of the North between Lens and Lille (1-0), the 6th day.

And "in view of the serious excesses that have occurred", she decreed a total closed session at the Bollaert-Delelis stadium in Lens until the end of the investigation, before a decision expected on October 6.

This closed-door measure currently concerns two Ligue 1 matches for Racing, against Strasbourg on Wednesday and Reims on October 1.

"Beyond the fervor of its lair, a central component of its identity", RC Lens "is thereby cut off from significant economic resources linked to the absence of supporters and partners for the next two meetings", regretted the club in a statement.

The committee also decided to close the parking lot for Lille supporters when Losc plays away, starting with the planned trip to Strasbourg on Saturday for the 8th day of L1.

- Scuffles -

These are the first disciplinary sanctions taken after the clashes observed on Saturday afternoon in Bollaert.

At half-time of the match, dozens of Lensois supporters invaded the field to do battle with the Lille's parking lot.

The clashes, limited by the intervention of the CRS, left six slightly injured.

RC Lens "will meet on Wednesday the representatives of the supporters' groups concerned by the current identification procedures" and "will present the appropriate sanctions adopted for each type of reprehensible behavior", the club said, adding that it would file a complaint against opposing supporters "authors of unspeakable gestures and behavior".

The police try to contain the Lensois supporters during the Lens-Lille match at the Bollaert stadium, September 18, 2021 FRANCOIS LO PRESTI AFP / Archives

Two spectators were arrested, including one for having launched a siege on the police.

This 26-year-old Lille supporter was tried Monday afternoon for "violence against a person holding public authority" with "weapon by destination", namely "a torn seat".

His immediate appearance was postponed until October 18 at 2:00 p.m.

The man was released under judicial supervision with several prohibitions until judgment, in particular the prohibition to attend the matches of Losc and Lens and to go to the surroundings of the stadiums during and before the matches.

"It's never happened to me to behave like that. I'm sorry for the act I might have done, I didn't think I was hurting the person," he told the judges.

For this violence with three aggravating circumstances, he faces seven years of imprisonment, said the prosecutor.

- A tumultuous return for the supporters -

Because of these incidents, "firmly" condemned Sunday by the LFP, the kickoff of the second part of the meeting was postponed by 30 minutes.

The Sang et Or won 1-0.

The disciplinary committee has already dealt this season with similar cases involving supporters, symbols of a tumultuous return of spectators to stadiums long remained empty due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

On August 22, the Mediterranean clash between Nice and Marseille was interrupted in the 75th minute after incidents between players, supporters and members of the management of the two clubs.

In particular, blows had been exchanged.

On September 9, the disciplinary committee imposed on OGC Nice a withdrawal of two points (including one suspended) as well as the closed door of its stadium for three matches.

The poster will also have to be replayed, on neutral ground, on October 27.

For Montpellier-Marseille (2-3), at the beginning of August, interrupted for a few minutes due to projectiles launched on the lawn, the committee decided to close, for three matches, the two incriminated stands.

And for French football, the image presented is not very bright.

"This start to the season is not going to help us. A rapid awareness of all football players, supporters in the lead, is mandatory," Minister Delegate for Sports Roxana Maracineanu tweeted on Saturday.

ah-eva-zl-jed / av

© 2021 AFP