four injured and seven arrests during clashes between club supporters – Libération

Seven people were arrested by the police on Friday evening during the Ligue 1 match between Paris FC and Rodez, reports a police source cited by AFP this Saturday, November 2. No indication was given on the state of health of the four injured who were transported to hospital, except that none had a life-threatening condition.

According to the Paris prosecutor’s office, among the seven people arrested, two are under 18 years old. Among the victims, two are in relative emergency, two others in absolute emergency. The ongoing investigation is open for attempted homicide and was entrusted late Saturday morning to the judicial police, according to the prosecution.

Among those arrested is “a leader known to our security elements for a long time and who is being prevented from entering the stadium”specifies the president of Paris FC Pierre Ferracci. According to him, “a group of thugs, whose main actors were prevented from entering the stadium, waited for the Ultras Lutetia, a peaceful group, at the end of the match and attacked them. Fortunately the Lutetia were there in large numbers and put them to flight, otherwise it could have been much more serious”.

Beyond the legal proceedings initiated, the Paris police prefect, Laurent Nuñez, “will draw all consequences and with the greatest administrative firmness from this brawl between two antagonistic groups of Paris FC supporters”announced the police headquarters. The clashes took place around 10:30 p.m. near the Charléty stadium (13th arrondissement) after the match which ended in a draw (3-3) between the two teams.

No worries about the club’s takeover

These incidents come as the Arnault family – whose patriarch is Bernard Arnault, CEO of LVMH – announced in mid-October that it had entered, via its holding company Agache, into “exclusive negotiations with a view to acquiring a majority stake in Paris FC”.

With this acquisition, Paris FC could become the second major football club in the capital with Paris SG. Pierre Ferracci assured that he was not “not worried” concerning the image of his club vis-à-vis investors who “know the world of football and are very attentive to ensuring that all appropriate measures are taken” pour “put these individuals out of harm’s way”.