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Ligue 2: after four matches in the cold behind closed doors, Saint-Etienne finds its Cauldron

2022-09-30T19:30:54.256Z


Punished after the excesses against AJA last May, the Greens face Grenoble in front of 22,000 people this Saturday, at Geoffroy-Guichard.


After four matches behind closed doors, Saint-Etienne, 18th in Ligue 2 and in a relegation position, partially finds its audience during a match of the 10th day of the championship (3:00 p.m.) against Grenoble, Saturday at the Geoffroy stadium. Guichard.

Twenty-two thousand spectators are expected, including 500 Grenoble residents who will be strictly supervised according to a prefectural decree.

To discover

  • Calendar and results Ligue 2

This was taken for this meeting classified at risk due to antagonisms between supporters of the two camps, those claiming to be from Grenoble being also prohibited from circulating in a defined perimeter around the stadium.

Only three of the four stands will be open.

The fourth, that occupied by the ultra group of the Greens Angels, remains closed for two matches, including that of Saturday.

It was already there for the play-off against Auxerre following incidents which occurred for the reception of Monaco, on April 23.

I can't wait for Saturday and to experience this with my players, with the supporters because when the Cauldron pushes, it pushes hard.

I know that the fervor will be there

, ”said coach Laurent Batlles on Thursday at a press conference.

Since the start of the season, the Greens have been playing at home in an empty enclosure after the Saint-Etienne club was sanctioned on June 23 with four matches behind closed doors (plus two suspended) and a withdrawal of six points including three firm after the very serious incidents that concluded the L1/L2 return barrage against Auxerre on May 29 in the Cauldron.

Serious incidents

In the seconds that followed the penalty shootout lost by the Greens (1-1, 5-4 pens) against the Auxerrois, synonymous with relegation, hundreds of ultras, often hidden under hoods or scarves, had invaded the lawn, showing their anger by throwing smoke bombs and firework mortars towards the official platform, sometimes with direct fire.

After three and a half months of investigation, around thirty ultra supporters, suspected of having participated in the violence, which had lasted nearly two hours, causing damage estimated at around 500,000 euros by the club's advertising department for the destruction of LED advertising screens and 90,000 euros on the mainland side, owner of the stadium, were arrested on September 19.

Twenty-four of them will answer for their actions in court.

Among them, eleven will be tried in correctional on November 16.

They are members of the Magics fans and the Greens Angels, the club's two main ultra groups.

Serious warning

Described by investigators as "

extremely seasoned

", and for some already convicted, these individuals face a maximum sentence of three years in prison and a five-year ban on sports grounds for "

throwing projectiles, illegal entry into a playground , use of street furniture as a projectile, violence with weapons without ITT

”.

This operation called “

Ultras 42

”, carried out a few days before the return of the public to the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium, is probably not due to chance on the part of the public authorities and can sound like a serious warning to prevent a possible recurrence.

However, after this wave of arrests and the expected appearances, it remains to be seen what the reaction of the ultra groups, always quick to protest in a demonstrative manner against the authority, judicial for the administrative sanctions to which they are subject, or that of the Professional Football League for the prohibited use of smoke bombs in stadiums.

This is one of the two serious points of tension with the sale of ASSE, still pending, since 2018. However, the reprieves that accompany the sanctions imposed by the LFP on June 23 maintain strong pressure on ASSE in the event of new incidents, always possible in a context that remains tense between the club and part of its public.

Source: lefigaro

All sports articles on 2022-09-30

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