Friction between supporters punctuated Wednesday evening in the Old Port of Marseille, on the eve of the semi-final second leg of the Europa League Conference between OM and Feyenoord Rotterdam, leading to seven arrests.
The Dutch had gathered in large numbers on terraces near the Old Port, under surveillance by French and Dutch law enforcement.
Projectiles were first fired in their direction, according to the Bouches-du-Rhône police headquarters.
Then Marseille supporters arrived and groups from both sides began to provoke each other.
"The police intervened, on several occasions, very quickly, to separate these small groups, so there were no major disturbances," said the prefecture.
A “fan-zone” set up on Prado beach
A Dutchman, however, was slightly injured.
Five Marseille supporters were arrested, three for carrying sticks, two for transporting fireworks mortars, and two others on the Dutch side, including one for violence against a person holding public authority.
For Thursday, a "fan-zone" will be installed on Prado beach, the largest beach in the city, to avoid overflows, while the meeting has been classified "level 5" in terms of security by the authorities, i.e. the maximum level, according to a source familiar with the matter.
“It was immediately obvious that a higher level of security was needed than against Thessaloniki,” said this source on Tuesday, referring to the incidents in Marseille during the quarter-final against PAOK Salonika.
Some 3,200 Dutch supporters are expected at the Stade Vélodrome on Thursday evening, and 1,000 to 1,500 others in town, without a ticket.
