Fights broke out between Olympique Lyonnais and Paris Saint-Germain supporters en route to the Coupe de France final yesterday evening.
Despite extensive security protocols put in place which saw 1000 police mobilised for the event, as well as strict management of traffic to and from the stadium, with different supporters restricted to different routes, clashes still managed to break out.
According to L’Équipe, a violent incident occurred when coaches carrying the rival fans came into contact ahead of the game. As Bertrand Gaume, the prefect of the Hauts-de-France region explained in a press conference, a convoy being escorted by the police arrived “at the wrong place” and at a “bad time.”
This mistake saw one of the set of supporters exit their coach and attack the other in a “very violent brawl” which left two coaches damaged and one set on fire, in a blaze which then spread to a nearby toll booth. The police reportedly quickly intervened to prevent any further damage but 30 were hurt in the clash, and at least eight among the law enforcement also suffered injuries.
10 arrests made ahead of Coupe de France final
Outside of this incident, the Northern prefecture revealed that their policing around the Coupe de France saw 10 arrests, eight fixed penalties, and one intervention for public drunkenness.
