L1: in the face of incidents in stadiums, eagerly awaited measures

A meeting devoted to "the fight against violence in stadiums" is scheduled at 8:30 am Place Beauvau around ministers Gérald Darmanin (Interior), Roxana Maracineanu (Sports) and Éric Dupond-Moretti (Justice), to unveil the remedies envisaged by the authorities, as the executive committed on November 23.

Representatives of professional football, starting with the president of the Professional Football League, Vincent Labrune, will take part, some by videoconference.

"I am surprised that the actors - the government, the league, the clubs - do not assume their responsibilities a little more," said Payet on Wednesday in a forum published online by Le Monde, where the Marseille captain denounces " an unbearable form of collective resignation "and hopes that Thursday's meeting" will not be without a future ".

According to a source close to the discussions, the round table should serve to "put content" in the four axes of work announced by the government: stadium bans for offending supporters, securing the enclosures, training of stewards and improvement of the decision-making process surrounding the stoppage of a match in the event of a disturbance.

Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin, surrounded by ministers, Eric Dupont-Moretti (Justice, l), Roxana Maracineanu (Sports) and presidents, Vincent Labrune (LFP, 2nd g) and Noël Le Graët (FFF), on 23 November 2021 after a meeting at the Ministry in Paris, after the incidents of November 21 that occurred during the match between Lyon and Marseille JULIEN DE ROSA AFP / Archives

No "big bang"

The latest arbitrations were underway on Wednesday but, barring a reversal, they should not give birth to new measures requiring a law.

For several years, and especially since 2016 and the Larrivé law which has strengthened the power of clubs in maintaining order in their stadiums, most players have considered that the legislative arsenal is sufficient.

"We should not expect a big bang" on individual measures, including stadium bans, confirms another source familiar with the matter.

"The law is already available, it must be better known, better used and more effective", she adds, ruling out any measure aimed at worsening the existing sanctions.

Regarding safety in the stadiums, the government will be careful that video protection is "at a satisfactory level" on the side of the clubs, which will also have to prove their ability to cope with the throwing of projectiles targeting the players, adds this source.

Ligue 1 was the scene of sometimes serious incidents from August in Montpellier or Nice, where a fight involving supporters, players and members of the technical staff broke out on the lawn of the Allianz-Riviera .

OM playmaker Dimitri Payet retained by Lotomba after being targeted by an OGC Nice fan at the Allianz Riviera, August 22, 2021 Valery HACHE AFP / Archives

The black series continued until November 21 with projectiles launched in Lyon against Payet, hit by a plastic water bottle in the head.

The match, stopped after four minutes of play, will be replayed behind closed doors on OL, sanctioned with a penalty point in the standings.

OM playmaker Dimitri Payet, hit by a bottle of water thrown by a Lyon man from the north turn on November 21, 2021 at Groupama Stadium, at the end of the 14th day of Ligue 1 PHILIPPE DESMAZES AFP / Archives

"Urban violence has invaded our stadiums, we are totally destitute, but luckily in recent weeks, the state has intervened to help us," said Vincent Labrune on Saturday.

"Thousands of thugs have nothing to do there. We must be uncompromising, act quickly and well," he thundered during the General Assembly of the French Football Federation.

Liability of clubs

"There have never been so many incidents", noted at his side the president of the FFF Noël Le Graët.

"I believe that we must make a certain number of efforts in the clubs," assured the leader, expected Thursday Place Beauvau.

The president of the FFF, Noël Le Graët (d) and the president of the LFP, Vincent Labrune, before the start of a meeting with the ministers Gérald Darmanin (Interior), Roxana Maracineanu (Sports) and Eric Dupont-Moretti (Justice ), on November 23, 2021 at the Ministry of the Interior in Paris JULIEN DE ROSA AFP / Archives

Regarding the OL-OM affair, Lyon's responsibility has been established on the disciplinary level.

No safety net had in fact been installed in front of the corner of the Lyon ultras, from which the projectile aimed at Payet started.

"We of course considered that the club was responsible for the actions of the supporters present in its stadium. This decision highlights a responsibility of OL, absolutely", justified the chairman of the disciplinary committee, Sébastien Deneux, after having communicated on December 8 the sanction imposed on OL.

The author of the projectile throw was sentenced by the courts to six months suspended prison sentence with immediate appearance.

jta-dec-alh-jed / fbr / mdm

© 2021 AFP