The Ultras Paris Collective and its 3,000 members no longer have a president since Wednesday.
Romain Mabille, appointed shortly after the creation of the group in spring 2016, announced his decision in a message posted on his Instagram account.
The leader was the privileged interlocutor of PSG since the return of the ultras to the Parc des Princes, which raises questions for the future.
These relate to the relations between the CUP and the club, but also to the internal management of the association which brings together several groups with different tendencies (LPA, K-Soce Team, Nautecia, Parias, Ultras Paname…).
“I am ending my presidency of the CUP and my activities within the association,” explains Romain Mabille in his message.
In recent weeks, I had already taken a step back.
I will communicate later on the reasons for my choice as well as its consequences.
[…] There are a lot of things I no longer share within the CUP and PSG.
My frankness and my values push me to make this choice.
[…] I leave the presidency with my head held high, being able to look at myself in the mirror, proud of my record.
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Edinson Cavani, source of tension
Romain Mabille did not respond to our requests.
Close sources evoke his weariness and the impact of the coronavirus which has distanced the ultras from the stadium, weakened ties and made exchanges between groups more difficult.
His entourage firmly assures that his decision has nothing to do with the recent appeal trial for a fight between ultras, in early 2016, shortly before his official assumption of office at the head of the group.
The deliberation must be rendered in the course of next week and Mabille, who pleads his innocence, still hopes to be released.
PSG had so far continued to work normally with him and management considered him a quality interlocutor.
Rather, it was internal differences within the CUP that prompted the leader of the K-Soce Team to slam the door.
The episode of the banners deployed in the capital around the Clasico sparked tensions.
Contrary to the uses of internal functioning, they had not been debated and validated collectively by the ultras.
The K-Soce Team did not participate in this action, which notably aroused the indignation of the Minister for Sports.
Beyond the consequences that he had to assume, the leader was according to internal echoes especially raised against the support given to Edinson Cavani.
The CUP was very divided on the question of the Matador, idol of the turn left without farewell.
The unilateral decision of a group to praise him in front of the Invalides would have been the last straw.
A respected leader
Most of the CUP leaders only learned this Wednesday of the departure of Romain Mabille, as did PSG, who declined to comment.
The question of succession arises, without a natural successor being obvious.
Comfortable in communication, Mabille publicly defended a non-violent movement compatible with the club's commitments, while being respected within the group, even if conflicts had led to the departure of several groups.
The deprivation of stands due to Covid gives Virage Auteuil time to organize.
The CUP office, which brings together its leaders, should meet very quickly, perhaps as early as Thursday, to appoint a new president.
Some players in the movement hope that the new leader will be interim and that Romain Mabille will reverse his decision within a few months.
Either way, the identity of the newly elected will be important to maintain the unity of the CUP.
It will also be crucial when the stadium gates reopen to reassure PSG and the public authorities on the maintenance of a line of conduct which is still particularly monitored, 10 years after the war in the stands which led to the Leproux plan.
