October 26 – Saint-Étienne, one of France’s most iconic clubs but currently bottom of Ligue 1, have been ordered to play their home games behind closed doors until at least the middle of next month after protests from angry fans delayed the start of last Friday’s 2-2 draw with Angers by an hour.
The measure is a temporary sanction before a definite decision is made on November 17. Saint-Étienne will also be deprived of their away support for next Saturday’s match against Metz.
Frustration towards manager Claude Puel and the club’s poor form this season boiled over prior to kick-off last Friday. Home fans unfurled banners, let off a barrage of projectiles and smoke bombs and ran onto the field, damaging both goals. The players were forced off and kick-off was put back as municipal workers repaired the nets at the city-owned Geoffroy-Guichard stadium.
League officials had already imposed a two-match suspended closure of one of the stands after incidents during the derby against Lyon on October 3.
The trouble was the latest in a string of incidents to hit French football this season. Crowd trouble forced the southern derby between Nice and Marseille to be abandoned on August 22. And the northern derby between Lens and Lille was overshadowed by a pitch invasion that held up the start of the second half. Nice were deducted a point and Lens ordered to play home matches behind closed doors.
On another weekend, supporters invaded the pitch at the game between Angers and Marseille, while stones were thrown at a bus taking Bordeaux fans to their match in Montpellier, with 16 suffering minor injuries.
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