Among the 15,200 Lyon supporters who joined Lille dreaming of their club's first trophy in twelve years on May 25, few remained impressed by the goals scored by Dembélé and Ruiz in the first half. No, this final of the Coupe de France without much history lost against PSG (1-2) especially left its mark on the OL side due to the violent clashes that occurred at the Fresnes-lès-Montauban toll booth (Pas-de-Calais). ).
Contrary to the organization planned by the authorities, part of the Lyon convoy (seven coaches, or around 450 people out of 1,200) traveling with the groups of supporters thus faced 1,500 Parisian fans (23 coaches) at the height of this toll located on the A1 motorway, around forty kilometers from the Pierre Mauroy stadium.
The details of the human toll immediately reported 30 injured supporters (in addition to eight police officers), including “14 having required medical treatment”, during this brawl preceding a poster classified as very high risk (level 5 out of 5) by the National Anti-Hooliganism Division (DNLH) of the national police.
“Using a large number of videos”
While PSG and OL will meet again for the first time since this Coupe de France final, this time in Ligue 1, this Sunday (8:45 p.m.) at the Parc des Princes, 20 Minutes looked into the aftermath of these serious incidents, prolonged by damage to the Villeneuve-d'Ascq stadium in the evening. Although no judicial investigation has yet been opened, the preliminary investigation is still in progress, seven months later, under the responsibility of the Arras public prosecutor's office.
Contacted by 20 Minutes this week, Arras deputy prosecutor Adam Chodkiewiez explains: “The investigation is progressing, but it requires the use of a large number of videos. At the toll booth, the scene was filmed by numerous motorists who were gradually identified, and who were then approached to ask for possible videos. The use of videos available to investigators is now underway to try to determine the respective responsibilities of the protagonists.”
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“Families experienced this terrible scene”
Adam Chodkiewiez, who plans to “take stock of the investigation next week”, explains that it was entrusted to the research section (national gendarmerie) of Villeneuve-d'Ascq, and that it “allowed to specify the chronology of events ahead of the Coupe de France final.” As pointed out in an OL press release the day after the clashes, the current investigation reports a “reduced escort” for the seven Lyon coaches having found themselves “in the same lines as the Parisian coaches”.
“To date, no serious injuries have been reported,” said the Arras deputy prosecutor. The material toll, however, is much heavier: the damage for the motorway concessionaire alone is estimated at more than 1.5 million euros. » A progress report which raises eyebrows at Hervé Banbanaste, lawyer for the Bad Gones group, who here represents around ten OL supporters who filed a complaint for “the attack on the Lyon coaches at the toll booth”.
“I understand the significant damage to the motorway network, but the heart of the matter, in my opinion, is these victims who almost burned in bus number 7,” said Mr. Banbanaste. We are also talking here about families and minors, not ultra profiles. » Determined to become a civil party, Me Banbanaste insists.
« I spoke with families who spoke of a smoke bomb thrown by a Parisian supporter into the hatch of this burnt bus. People were forced to break windows to quickly get out and avoid being trapped in the flames. I defend the families who experienced this terrible scene and I do not want them to be forgotten. »
In May, OL pointed to “armed PSG supporters”
Joined Thursday by 20 MinutesOL management indicates “let justice communicate” regarding this investigation for which the club has no additional information. On May 26, 2024, Olympique Lyonnais regretted in its press release “a clear error of route”, as well as the presence of “armed PSG supporters” having “injured several OL supporters”.
Our file on OL
While specifying that he “will be a civil party for all procedures that will be opened”. In this context, a ministerial decree published on Friday in the Official Journal and a prefectural decree passed on Tuesday prohibit the presence of Lyon supporters this Sunday at the Parc des Princes. In view of the episode at Fresnes-lès-Montauban, this may not be the last decision concerning a clash between PSG and OL.
