Europe 1 with AFP 6:40 p.m., September 20, 2021

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.

The investigation into the "serious excesses" between Lensois and Lille supporters, Saturday, continues.

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.

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. 

Six minor injuries during the clashes 

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.

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 p.m.

A complaint from RC Lens

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.

For its part, RC Lens lodged a complaint "in particular for the facts of degradation and use of smoke," the Béthune prosecutor's office told AFP. 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.