Clashes between two groups of Paris FC supporters broke out on Friday in Paris, leaving four injured with stab wounds following the Ligue 2 match between the Parisian club and Rodez, Agence France-Presse (AFP) learned. Saturday November 2 from a police source. Seven people were arrested by the police, according to this source. If the prognosis is not life-threatening, no other indication was given on the state of health of the four injured who were transported to hospital.
The clashes took place on Friday around 10:30 p.m. near the Charléty stadium (13e arrondissement of Paris) at the end of the match which ended in a draw (3-3) between the two teams. 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 current investigation is open for attempted homicide and was entrusted late Saturday morning to the judicial police, according to the prosecution.
“A bunch of thugs”
Among those arrested is “a leader known to our security elements for a long time and who is being prevented from entering the stadium”Paris FC president Pierre Ferracci told AFP. 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”. “Luckily the Lutetia were there in large numbers and put them to flight, otherwise it could have been much more serious”he added.
Beyond the legal proceedings initiated, the Paris police prefect, Laurent Nuñez, “will draw all the consequences and with the greatest administrative firmness from this brawl between two antagonistic groups of Paris FC supporters”announced the police headquarters.
The Arnault family – whose patriarch is Bernard Arnault, CEO of LVMH – announced in mid-October that it had entered, with 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 Saint-Germain.
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 careful to ensure that all appropriate measures are taken” pour “put these individuals out of harm’s way”.
