The derby between Olympique Lyonnais and AS Saint-Etienne was particularly anticipated by supporters of both clubs. If in the eyes of the average observer of French football, this meeting lost flavor – because of the situations of the two entities -, for those concerned, it was a match not to be lost. While they were banned from traveling, Saint-Etienne supporters were vocal before and during their team's departure for Lyon. Once there, the players were welcomed in a strange way.
Once off the bus in front of Groupama Stadium, the Greens took their first steps on the pitch even before the warm-up. Lyon supporters, already present, welcomed them with homophobic chants which will probably not go unpunished at a time when the League is ordered to strike hard when these events occur. The smoke bombs fired at the start of the match didn't help anything. As a reminder, the Saint-Etienne supporters had already launched the debates during the reception of RC Strasbourg and had provoked strong reactions.
Towards a partial closure of Groupama Stadium?
Usually, Olympique Lyonnais is a club “pretty well seen“, according to L'Equipe. The French sports daily explains that the management of Les Gones has always been conciliatory with the disciplinary body by cooperating to identify the offending supporters. However, the accumulation of actions during this derby, which pushed the referee of the evening Willy Delajod to delay the smooth running of the match from the first minute of play.
According to the sports newspaper, we should expect that Lyon supporters and, in fact, the club, will be sanctioned by the League. According to case law, the commission positions itself according to the number of smoke bombs used. Less than 50 and the club is fined. Any more and a partial closed session is required. If to these smoke bombs, the disciplinary body adds the homophobic chants which greeted the AS Saint-Etienne players, it is a safe bet that the Groupama Stadium will be partially closed.
However, we will have to wait for the LFP disciplinary committee on Wednesday November 27. The regulations provide for a period of 10 days after the events, knowing that there will be no meeting on November 20 following the international break, OL will become aware of its potential sanction at the end of November.
Unhappy supporter – and that's an understatement – of the Girondins de Bordeaux, I cheat my despair by following other parts of world football.
