Final of the Coupe de France: these French in disagreement with the actions of the inter-union

Geoffrey Branger / Photo credit: FRANCK FIFE / AFP 10:53 am, April 29, 2023

It is a high-risk match that promises this Saturday night for Emmanuel Macron. The Head of State will attend the final of the Coupe de France at the Stade de France, which will oppose FC Nantes to Toulouse Football Club. The inter-union of Seine-Saint-Denis, angry at the pension reform, threatens to disrupt the meeting, which does not necessarily please the supporters. "If it's to have a speech, it can go, if it's really to embarrass and disrupt the match excessively, no, it's not worth it," says one of them at the microphone of Europe 1.

"The match is sport, it has nothing to do with politics"

As for the protest, the CGT should distribute red cards and whistles to supporters to welcome the President, despite the bans. Like what happened on Thursday during the rugby match between Agen and Nevers, the authorities fear that the protesters will cut the power in the stadium. To avoid this, four generators were installed.

Actions that most French people met by Europe 1 do not support. "I find it scandalous, it's a denial of democracy. The match is sport, it's a football match, it has nothing to do with politics," said one of them. "People who are going to work two more years go to the game to see the game, they don't want the game to be interrupted, it's useless! I'm a little tired of unions attacking the people!", says another at the microphone of Europe 1.

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Will Emmanuel Macron follow the protocol and go down to the pitch to greet the two finalist teams? At this time, nothing is certain. "We still stay on several possible configurations. If the authorities on the ground decide that the president can go on the lawn, it is because we will have the human and technical elements that will secure this moment, "says Pascal Bitot-Panelli, former commander of the service for the protection of high personalities.

According to information from Europe 1, the president must, at this stage, go down to the pitch to greet the two teams.

3,000 police and gendarmes mobilized

The trophy will be awarded from the stands to avoid a possible invasion of the field of the supporters at the end of the match. Several measures have also been taken to strengthen the security of the event: the installation of large gates in the stadium, at the corners, or the mobilization of some 3,000 police and gendarmes, 1,000 more than during the security fiasco of the final of the Champions League last year between Real Madrid and Liverpool.