Violence Erupts Before Coupe de France Final: 38 Injured
Football fans witnessed a dark chapter on the evening of the Coupe de France final between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Olympique Lyonnais (OL) as clashes erupted at a motorway toll booth. Thirty supporters and eight police officers were slightly injured in the brawl, which led to a bus being set on fire and substantial property damage.
Unfolding of Events on the A1 Motorway
The clashes occurred around 5:50 p.m. at the Fresnes-lès-Montauban tollbooth on the A1 motorway, situated just a few dozen kilometers from the final's venue, the Pierre-Mauroy stadium in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, Lille. According to the Northern prefecture, a bus was incinerated and two others were damaged during the uproar. Additionally, the premises of the Société des Autoroutes du Nord et de l’Est de la France (SANEF) were vandalized.
Thirty supporters suffered minor injuries, with 14 requiring medical treatment. Among them, twelve were Lyon supporters, three of whom were hospitalized. Eight police officers were also mildly injured. President Emmanuel Macron condemned the violence and emphasized the need for a peaceful sporting environment.
Miscommunication: A Trigger for Violence
Northern prefect Bertrand Gaume noted that the confrontation was partially triggered by an escort error by the police, which led to conflicting supporter groups arriving at the same location. This misstep led to violent brawls as fans used smoke bombs and other measures against one another before the police intervened 'very rapidly'. The Collectif Ultras Paris claimed that their bus was attacked by Lyon supporters despite having reserved routes for the two groups. Olympique Lyonnais corroborated this claim, stating that the buses were under police escort.
'These acts of violence are unacceptable and contrary to the values of football,' criticized the French Football Federation. Both PSG's coach Luis Enrique and Lyon's captain Alexandre Lacazette expressed regret and disappointment over the violent incidents.
Preventive Measures and Condemnation
To mitigate risk and ensure safety, around 1,000 police officers and gendarmes were deployed inside and around the stadium, with additional CRS forces on the A1 motorway. Despite these measures, the confrontation still occured, disrupting the peace just hours before such a high-stakes match.
- Following the violent outbreak, police swiftly moved to defuse further escalations. The disrupted traffic on the A1 motorway was temporarily held up, but normalcy eventually returned around 7 p.m., as reported by the Northern prefect.
- PSG supporters travelling by bus were initially instructed to converge at the parking lot near Fresnes-lès-Montauban tollbooth, where the police were supposed to escort them to the stadium. However, an error in the escort route by the national police led to the violent untangling at the toll booth.
- Both Lyon and PSG fans were subsequently managed by stewards and police forces to prevent further encounters. Even though Lyon supporters were the first to leave the stadium, followed by PSG supporters, no additional incidents were reported post-match.
