Thomas, 25, works at the reception desk of a factory, and LP, 29, is a freelance graphic designer. When the weekend arrives, the jobs disappear and give way to something else: the fervor for football and for their club, Clermont. Except that since August, the LFP and Bein Sports have decided to play spoilsport by scheduling, at the last minute, the majority of Ligue 2 matches on Friday evening. If the channel has taken a (small) step towards the fans by scheduling an additional match on Saturday, the protest remains present among the supporters. So, every weekend, Thomas and LP meet to support their club, but also to fight, with the Nemetum Ultras group. With their 60 active members and around a hundred supporters, they defend a simple cause: returning football to its sacred place, that is to say at the weekend.
In August, you went on strike with other Ligue 2 clubs to contest the decision of the LFP and Bein Sports to schedule matches on Friday evenings.
We were very frustrated to discover that the matches would be on Friday. We went on a total strike for two matches, in coordination with other groups of ultras in Ligue 2 with whom we meet from time to time. It was a joint movement. There was no entertainment, and we didn't even enter the stands. We took action, including banners, and we threw tennis balls on the field to interrupt the match for a few minutes. Other groups have done the same.
What was the reaction of the club and the players?
The first thing we did after the match was to go see the players to explain to them that it wasn't against them. We were able to speak to the captain, and the club also took action on the first day with t-shirts “ For a Ligue 2 at the weekend », during the warm-up before the match against Pau. There was also an action to show their disagreement by delaying the kick-off, they wanted to wait 30 seconds after the referee blew the whistle. The club had also placed the camera which filmed the match right in front of our banner “ Ligue 2 is the weekend “. Afterwards, they didn't necessarily continue, it's not easy for them, they could get fines and that could reflect a bad image.
We have one of our members who, last year, almost made the Grand Slam, that is to say going to see all the Ligue 2 matches of the season. This year, he is there one game out of five, because on Fridays, well he works.
You stopped the strike, but maintained the actions.
It's not easy to maintain over an entire season, and in certain groups, it has run out of steam. Well also did not retransmit our banners. But we continue to strike at home every time for the first 15 minutes, we don't do any entertainment and we continue to put up banners. Afterwards, people in the side stands started to criticize us and we said to ourselves that it was doing the club more harm than anything else. We still took action: tennis balls, lasers, and we also went in front of all the local media, France Bleu Auvergne, The Mountainand we put banners in front of their premises so that they relay our messages.
Concretely, what problems does it pose to you that the matches are on Friday?
Well, we're working! Saturday is perfect. You can enjoy, whether before or after the match. On Friday, you get off work, on Sunday you don't have Monday to rest. We have one of our members who, last year, almost made the Grand Slam, that is to say going to see all the championship matches of the season. This year, he is there one game out of five, because on Fridays, well he works. Travel, too, on Fridays, is complicated. As soon as there is a trip, that means taking a day off, no choice.
-What explanations were provided to explain this choice?
When we got the announcement, we were told that it was normal, and that it was like Pro D2 in rugby where they play on Friday evenings. We have been to the 6-7 main European championships, and none play as much on Friday (six in France compared to one in Spain, England, Italy or Germany, Editor’s note). We are part of the five major championships, and we don't even respect the second division! Even less the third, which is not really one, but which wants to become one. There is no respect for football in France. There isn't even any respect for Ligue 1, with this whole DAZN thing.
Ok, we will never be like in Germany, where Schalke brings 60,000 spectators back to the second division, but at the same time, in France, they don't help us.
Were you able to communicate with the LFP or Bein Sports?
No. Three weeks before the start of the championship, without any communication, the League decided to schedule the matches on Friday. When Bein arrived, bam, a multiplex on Friday and finished. We told ourselves that at least, after our descent into Ligue 2, we were going to have the matches on Saturday, but even that, we didn't have it to console us. But it's not just us, it's beyond that, it concerns the 18 Ligue 2 clubs. Even in National, the eight matches are scheduled for Friday at 7:30 p.m.! When you see that, after the empty stadiums in France… Ok, we will never be like in Germany, where Schalke brings 60,000 spectators back to the second division, but at the same time, in France, they don't help us.
The league made a move by adding a Saturday game. In your opinion, this was not enough?
Florent Houzot's primary argument (channel director of Bein Sports France, Editor’s note)It is : « I put in 40 million, so I do what I want. » In any case, this is what emerges from his interviews. When the ANS (the National Supporters Association) met Houzot with the LFP, what emerged was that, for them, the subject is closed. Postponing a match to Saturday was just for show. It was a gesture, but they won't go any further. They don't understand that there are people who work. For us, they totally despise us. For this season, we have been made to understand that change is no longer possible, so our fight is for next season to return to football on the weekend.
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