Initially scheduled for 9 p.m., the kickoff of the last meeting of the 23rd day of Ligue 1 between Saint-Etienne and Marseille, this Wednesday, had to be delayed by a quarter of an hour. The fault was caused by incidents between supporters outside the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium and the use of tear gas by the police, which spread to the grounds.
“Clashes broke out between supporters of the two clubs. The police intervened and had to use tear gas, which spread through the stadium and caused the delay, "detailed on Canal + Xavier Thuilot, general manager of Saint-Etienne. A strong smell of tear gas was indeed felt when warming up. This had to be interrupted and the players returned to the locker room.
1h30 of tear gas, this is how the Marseillais are received!
Bravo to the authorities for this beautiful mess! pic.twitter.com/j44ZeH54nH
A contingent of 400 Marseille supporters had been authorized to travel by the Loire police headquarters. On social networks, the South Winners released a video showing the use of tear gas by the police before the meeting. "This is how the Marseillais are received! Bravo to the authorities for this beautiful mess! ", The group of ultras of OM.
#ASSEOM | Official press release 🔵⚪️
OM can only regret that its supporters were forced to leave for Marseille without having been able to attend the match for which they had moved in an organized setting.
More information 👉 https://t.co/6crYioici2 pic.twitter.com/yUL8FDT1hO
In the evening, the Marseille club published a press release to specify the circumstances of the incidents and to condemn them. "A few hundred meters from the entrance to the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium, the buses of OM supporters were targeted by hooded individuals who violently attacked them," said OM. The coaches have suffered significant damage. When we arrived in the parking lot of the stadium, our supporters were confined to the spot and underwent throwing multiple objects from the Stéphanois supporters and particularly violent reactions from the police who used tear gas, a cannon water but also obviously flash-balls. They were not allowed to enter their gallery for obscure reasons. "
Mandanda comes to the news
On other images posted on Twitter, we see Marseille supporters celebrating the opening of Dimitri Payet's score from the 7th minute on the parking lot of the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium before hitting the road for Marseille. At the break, the Marseille goalkeeper and captain Steve Mandanda would have come to the news and would have made no secret of his dissatisfaction at having learned that the ultras had to leave around 9:45 p.m.
đź”´ VIDEO: The goal experienced by supporters of # OM in Saint Etienne.
They are now on their way back ... #TeamOM #ASSEOM
pic.twitter.com/B46JQez96R
"While waiting to know the precise circumstances of these incidents, OM can only regret that its supporters were forced to leave for Marseille without having been able to attend the match for which they had moved in an organized setting", further clarified the club press release.
