in Marseille, a reinforced system to try to limit overflows

In Marseille, the echoes of the very violent clashes between supporters which accompanied the meeting between OGC Nice and FC Cologne, causing thirty-two injuries on Thursday, September 8, did not lead to a thorough review of the security system developed for the reception of Eintracht Frankfurt, another German team, Tuesday, September 13, in the Champions League (9 p.m.).

“We had enough problems last season in the European Cup to know what to expect”, we slip on the side of the police headquarters of Bouches-du-Rhône. In the spring, the very agitated passages of the supporters of PAOK Salonika (Greece) and Feyenoord Rotterdam (Netherlands) had in particular been punctuated by incidents with the Marseille ultras on the sidelines of the Europa League Conference matches. “We have the feeling that the level of security will be higher [à la saison dernière] and that our concerns are better heard by the authorities”, reassures Jacques Cardoze, OM’s communications director.

If Eintracht Frankfurt announces the arrival of 3,300 supporters with tickets, it is the potential arrival of several thousand other Germans – 5,000, estimates the police headquarters of Bouches-du-Rhône, 2,000 to 3,000 , correct the clubs – and their management in a city with a very extensive topography, which concern the local authorities.

Limit the movements of supporters

Three prefectural decrees issued prior to this match, which marks the return to the Stade-Vélodrome of the premier competition in European football, aim to limit the movements of these supporters and their contact with Marseille fans. Thus, the movement of any person “taking advantage of the quality of supporter of Eintracht Frankfurt” – that is to say wearing jersey, scarf or club colors – was banned on public roads in the center of Marseille from Monday September 12 until the evening of the match.

No German supporters are allowed to walk around the Stade-Vélodrome either, apart from those who will be transported in coaches escorted by the police before the match. The take-out sale of alcoholic beverages is also prohibited in these two sectors from Tuesday 2 p.m.

So many decisions whose effectiveness depends largely on the goodwill of the people concerned – Germans and Marseilles – and on the will of the opposing club to channel its supporters.

On Monday, Eintracht Frankfurt relayed the prefectural decrees on its social networks. For its part, the management of OM spoke with its supporters’ clubs, reminding them in particular that the club was under the threat of a suspended closed session. It has also limited the sale of tickets to German customers and already warns that any visiting supporter detected in the stadium outside the dedicated area will be expelled.

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