Several Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches were marked this weekend by interruptions due to Tennis ball throwing, as during Angers-PSG. A coordinated initiative in the form of protest against French Football authorities and broadcasters.
It has become almost a habit in certain European championships, it was particularly noticed in France this weekend. Several Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches had to be stopped for a few minutes due to tennis balls being thrown onto the pitch.
It was the Red Star who opened the ball of little yellow balls Friday evening, with almost half an hour of interruption against Troyes, for the 13th day of the second division: the players had even been sent back to the locker room. Rebelote this Saturday, this time in Ligue 1, for Lens-Nantes then for Angers-PSG, with matches stopped for only a few minutes.
It is in fact a coordinated operation of the National Supporters Association. The objective: to reinforce the message that spectators in most stadiums in France have been trying to convey since the start of the season and their protest against the decisions of the Professional Football League (LFP). The body is accused, in addition to its management of TV rights, of mistreating supporters with recurring travel bans, closed stands and sanctions inflicted on certain clubs for the behavior of part of the public.
In addition to the LFP, BeIN Sports is particularly targeted, particularly in Ligue 2, with “Football is the weekend” banners deployed in almost all stadiums in the championship. Ligue 2 fans criticize the Qatari channel for having decided to reschedule the multiplex on Friday evening, also with a poster on Monday, without having listened to the anger of consumers. DAZN, the new broadcaster of Ligue 1 this season, is also taking a hit due – in particular – to the subscription prices.
United Kingdom, Bundesliga, Norway…
The “tennis ball protest” is not new and would have a British origin, like the protest by Blackburn fans last February, against their management. Last season, it was especially in the Bundesliga that the movement stood out, to protest against measures aimed at encouraging the entry of private capital into German clubs. Last summer in Norway, the match between Rosenborg BK and Lillestrom was stopped by smoke bombs and tennis balls. Origin of anger? Video assistance to refereeing. In any case, a visible way of expressing discontent with an impact on the match, without falling into violence.
