She exchanged messages with the president of the FFF to tell him that it was not possible to see images of spectators gathered in this way.

She immediately warned the leaders of professional leagues to ensure that the rules of physical distancing are respected, under penalty of reverting to more restrictive rules for sports grounds.

The same day, she had sent a letter to all the players in French sport (leagues, federations, partners) in which she recalled the need to "limit large gatherings" to "stem the exceptional epidemic spread".

The government has decided for three weeks of fixed gauges at 5,000 people outdoors and 2,000 indoors.

"I would be grateful if you would ensure that the implementation of these gauges in sports arenas is accompanied by respect for a physical distance between the spectators who must remain masked. This is essential for their safety but also for the 'exemplary image that sport sends back to the country, especially when it is the subject of an audiovisual broadcast, "wrote the minister in a letter of which AFP had a copy.

Ivorian Lens midfielder Seko Fofana tries a shot despite the return of Portuguese defender from Lille, Jose Fonte, in their French Cup round of 16 on January 4, 2022 at Stade Bollaeert-Delelis FRANCOIS LO PRESTI AFP

Regarding the gauges, currently fixed, an amendment voted this week in the Assembly in the draft law on the vaccine pass could pave the way for proportional gauges if the health situation evolves, and according to the "characteristics" of the establishments .

A decree will clarify this amendment to the very general formula.

"There will be a floor beyond which there will be proportional gauges," the Minister responsible for Sports told a few journalists on Thursday, with the definition of a "percentage", in the event that the health situation evolves and all that once the bill is passed.

It has not yet been decided whether the prefects will have leeway in this device, we learned from the same source.

In addition, a meeting to study the compensation mechanism for the sports sector will take place next week with Bercy.

The new wave of Covid-19, with clusters in Bordeaux, Troyes and Lorient, does not spare French football, forced on Thursday to postpone a second match of the weekend in Ligue 1, the Lille-Lorient poster originally scheduled for Saturday.

© 2022 AFP