This Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 weekend was marked by the interruption of several matches after tennis balls were thrown onto the pitches. As since the start of the season, supporters are making their voices heard through banners, actions or press releases. Main target: the LFP.
“The action carried out this Saturday took place as part of a joint, national action, in order to create collective awareness of the difficulties encountered for several months,” said the RC Lens supporters groups in a press release. common. This start of the Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 season is marked by strong discontent among different groups of supporters across the country. The problem concerning the scheduling of Ligue 2 matches has crystallized tensions quite strongly, even among certain Ligue 1 supporters.
The weekend's actions, with banners and tennis ball throwing, were carried out in coordination with the National Supporters Association. In a peaceful manner, this action made it possible to highlight the demands of the different groups of supporters. And even if the subject of Ligue 2 programming remains an important subject. This weekend, supporters also wanted to send a message to the LFP, and in particular to its president Vincent Labrune.
“We must rediscover popular football”
“We have been witnessing for several years a disastrous management of the LFP: the management of TV rights by Vincent Labrune has demonstrated its shortcomings in this matter,” explains the joint press release from Lensois fans. And to continue: “A lack of respect for the historic broadcaster, the favoring of other broadcasters who are slow to commit, the drop in the amount of the sale of these rights due to the little time that remained before the start of the championship means that today French football is in danger! A subject however where we must recognize the success of Mr. LABRUNE is on the management of his salary. No manager in France (and beyond) will be. managed to ensure that the salaries of managers increased so much with such mediocre results.”
These very visible actions could be repeated during the next days of the championship. The LFP disciplinary committee is also targeted by supporters as well as collective sanctions. Supporters regret that clubs only “very rarely” step up to the plate. “We need to rediscover popular football, with leaders who have their feet on the ground,” comments a capo from a group of Ligue 1 supporters. Who continues with a smile: “With this action, the groups disturbed the other spectators about ten minutes, no violence, everything is peaceful but at least everyone was able to read the beautiful banners.”
The clubs are also in the viewfinder. “It is time for the clubs to finally move, with the power they have (…) to carry out these debates, or at least support the supporters' associations”, completes the press release from RC Lens supporters.
Two ministers crystallize tensions
In addition to subjects linked to the LFP and the state of French football, communication from the two new ministers, Interior and Sports, is not getting through. The tenant of Place Beauvau is nicknamed “the tifo police” by groups of supporters. Bruno Retailleau's various media outings find no support in the stands of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 where Lens supporters have the impression that supporting a football club has become “an illegal activity”. “His famous action plan is good reheated,” confides an SLO (Supporter Liaison Officer – Supporter Referent, Editor’s note) from a first division club. “He is a Minister of the Interior, he must show his muscles, the one who disappoints me the most is the Minister of Sports who must normally understand the concerns of the stands and come and discuss with us,” adds the club capo of Ligue 1.
Several interlocutors are in fact surprised by the difference in treatment and dialogue with the former Minister of Sports, Amélie Oudéa-Castéra. In response to the crisis in Ligue 2, the new Minister of Sports will call on “a trusted third party, a personality recognized by all” in order to “be able to continue the dialogue with stakeholders in order to identify room for improvement of the current situation for both supporters, clubs, the league and the broadcaster”. This subject still does not find a solution that can satisfy all stakeholders.
Some interlocutors also make it clear that there is a lack of a person who can lead the dialogue with the supporters, and not simply ministerial advisors. A new plenary of the National Supporterism Body is announced “in the coming weeks”. A first step to normally move forward. What to alleviate the anger in the stands of the two professional championships? Not so sure.
