Lensois supporters will finally have access to the visitors’ stand in Le Havre

Will the Blood and Gold colors be represented in the visitors’ stand at the Stade Océane in Le Havre this Sunday January 12, 2025 on the occasion of the 17th day of Ligue 1 who will see Le Havre and Lens clash?

Nothing was less certain since the disciplinary committee of the Professional Football League decided, on December 11, 2024 (with effect from December 17), “the closure for a closed match of the visitors area for the next away match you RC Lens ».

In question? The use of pyrotechnic devices by the latter during a trip to Reims on November 29, 2024.

The prefect requests “the opening of the Stade Océane parking lot”

“During the preparation work for this meeting, which involved all the services and partners concerned, a precise analysis was carried out of the operational consequences of this LFP sanction, namely the ban on access supporters of RC Lens in the parking lot of the Stade Océane in Le Havre,” indicates the prefecture of Seine-Maritime, Wednesday evening, in a press release.

In the absence of an alternative solution, the prefect of Seine-Maritime Jean-Benoît Albertini therefore took the decision to “request the opening of the Stade Océane parking lot” in order “to guarantee the maintenance of public order and the reception of Lensois supporters in complete safety ».

The mayor of Lens wrote to the prefect of Seine-Maritime and the mayor of Le Havre

A closure that many protagonists deplored. Starting with Sylvain Robert, the mayor of Lens, alerted by the Red Tigers, a group of Sang et Or supporters.

In a letter sent on December 31, 2024 to the prefect of Seine-Maritime, with a copy in particular to the mayor of Le Havre Édouard Philippe, the Lensois councilor asked the authorities to “conduct a reflection on the organization of this next trip so that a constructive solution, making it possible to supervise the presence of Lensois supporters in a dedicated and secure space can be offered. »

A letter, just like the one sent by the Red Tigers, which therefore found a favorable response to the prefecture.

Lensois had bought tickets in the stands of HAC supporters

The main fear of the Red Tigers was that the Lensois supporters would infiltrate the Le Havre stands dressed in their Sang et Or outfit and that the situation would degenerate.

“It appeared that a certain number of Lensois supporters, who are not subject to a travel ban, have acquired tickets for this match usually dedicated to local supportersand could thus have found themselves in common areas,” confirms the prefecture.

This is the case of Julien (not his real name), a Lensois supporter who has friends in Le Havre and will be making the trip. “We took places in the upper kop. We will come with our coats, without jerseys,” he confided to 76actu before the decision to open the visitors’ stand.

The latter fear that this closure will cause security problems and thus penalize all supporters who demonstrate responsible and respectful behavior during matches.

As a reminder, in October 2023. A Lensois supporter, who was present in the upper kop, was attacked by Le Havre after an RCL goal was ultimately refused.

On videos filmed by spectators during the match, we could see Lens supporters screaming their joy in the stands, before setting off smoke bombs, then being attacked by the crowd.

So, “in order toensure their safety such as the absence of crossing of flows of supporters, a perimeter decree and supervision of the movement of Lensois supporters supports this decision opening of the visitor area”, indicated, Wednesday evening, the prefect of Seine-Maritime Jean-Benoît Albertini, in a press release.

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