Mathieu Warnier, Media365: published on Saturday December 21, 2024 at 6:30 p.m.
While the FFF announced the cancellation of the 32nd final match of the Coupe de France between Tours and Lorient a few hours before kick-off, this decision provoked strong reactions from supporters.
It was to be a party at the Stade de la Vallée du Cher. Having experienced a fall in the hierarchy of French Football in recent years, the Tours club was due to host Lorient this Saturday as part of the 32nd finals of the Coupe de France. However, just a few hours before kick-off, the French Football Federation (FFF) threw a chill in Touraine. In fact, the latter announced via a press release the pure and simple cancellation of the meeting, the kick-off of which was set for 6:00 p.m. this Saturday. A decision justified by the fact that “the prefecture of Indre-et-Loire and the town hall of Tours noted that FC Tours was not able to put in place a system to guarantee the holding of the match in terms of reception of the public. According to information from the local daily The New Republica relative of the owner of the Touraine club Ivan Desmet confided his dissatisfaction with the cost of the security system planned for the meeting. The latter thus obtained a modification of the plans initially in place. The refusal expressed by the prefecture forced a step back but the delay in recruiting a sufficient number of security agents made the operation impossible on time.
The supporters are uplifted, Bergougnoux too
Faced with the risk of unrest linked to the late announcement of a closed session, the FFF did not hesitate and canceled the meeting while “the Organizing Commission of the Coupe de France will examine the follow-up to be given”. Which could lead to a lost match on the green carpet for Tours. A late decision which provoked very strong reactions from supporters via social networks. While the leaders of the Touraine club are seen as “good for nothing” or “null”, another assures that “this club will never move forward”. A frustration shared by Tours coach Bryan Bergougnoux, who mentioned in comments collected by theAFP the “enormous sacrifices since the start of the season” made by his players, whom he was able to convince not to go on strike to protest against “conditions which will quickly be brought to light”. “At some point, those responsible will have to give answers,” he added. I saw a player crying and I am very angry. » In any case, the hope of experiencing an epic in the Coupe de France undoubtedly ended this Saturday and without the Touraine players being able to defend their chances on the field.
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