January 23 – Feyenoord fans have been banned by French authorities from travelling to Lille for next week’s final Champions League group game between the two sides. France’s interior ministry expressed concerns about a “real and serious risk of confrontation” between the respective sets of supporters.
Scheduled for January 29 at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy, the fixture prompted the French government to issue the travel ban, citing a history of “public order disturbances” linked to the behaviour of some Feyenoord fans.
The ministry explained that despite 3,600 Feyenoord fans planning to attend, including 500 deemed dangerous, only 2,600 tickets were provided for Feyenoord supporters.
“Of the 1,000 supporters who have nevertheless planned to travel without a stadium admission ticket, it is feared that some will try to force their way into the stadium,” the French ministry said.
Lille lost 2-1 at Liverpool on Tuesday, before Feyenoord stunned Bayern Munich 3-0 on Wednesday, when the game was halted in the seventh minute because of poor visibility from clouds of smoke, after fans lit flares and fireworks behind one of the goals.
In May 2022 there were violent clashes in France between Marseille and Feyenoord fans outside the Stade Velodrome before the return leg of their Europa Conference League semifinal.
One video showed a Marseille supporter apparently unconscious on the ground as he was helped by fellow fans, while another showed two groups charging at each other shortly before kickoff just outside the stadium. There were also clashes the night before the game and after the match.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1737646137labto1737646137ofdlr1737646137owedi1737646137sni@w1737646137ahsra1737646137w.wer1737646137dna1737646137.