Coupe de France: “Serious troubles”, proximity and past with Saint-Etienne, why Montpellier supporters are banned from Puy-en-Velay

The space reserved for Montpellier supporters will be empty on Saturday in Le Puy-en-Velay. Midi Libre – GIACOMO ITALIANO

Based among other things on the recent clashes in Saint-Étienne, the Haute-Loire prefecture has decided to ban the Pailladins fans from traveling on Saturday, December 21, in Le Puy-en-Velay, on the occasion of the 32nd finals of the Coupe de France.

Montpellier HSC will be without its home team on Saturday, December 21 (6 p.m.) at the Charles-Massot stadium. Traveling to Puy-en-Velay, a National 1 team challenged in the round of 32 of the Coupe de France, the Hérault club will not be able to count on its supporters. Their trip has been banned by the Haute-Loire prefecture, which fears “serious disturbances to public order”.

In its order, the authority justifies its decision in particular by the proximity of Puy-en-Velay to Saint-Étienne and the “strong and long-standing antagonism”between the supporters of Pailladins and those of the Greens. In addition to recalling several incidents since 2010, the prefecture lists above all the last meeting between the two clubs. On November 23, Hérault fans were banned from the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium at the last minute after clashes outside the stadium, resulting in “14 people injured, including Montpellier supporters and police officers”.

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3/5 on the danger scale

Furthermore, before this match, which was rated 3/5 on the danger scale of the National Division for the Fight against Hooliganism (DNLH), the prefecture stated that “the Saint-Étienne supporters have already shown on several occasions that they are capable of positioning themselves on the route of the visiting supporters' buses. And this, in order to attempt a attack”, she wrote, citing clashes with groups from Sochaux, Metz, Grenoble, Marseille and Lille.

Finally, the Prefect did not forget to mention the strong mobilisation of law enforcement due to the end-of-year celebrations. With the security of “commercial activities, entertainment and festivities particularly present” in Puy-en-Velay.

Last Sunday, Nice supporters were also banned from travelling to Montpellier, to the La Mosson stadium. The ministerial decree taken in this sense was notably motivated by the presence of Pope Francis in Corsica and the mobilization of law enforcement agencies based in the South.