128 French supporter groups sign joint statement condemning ‘dangerous’ plan to dissolve Nantes & ASSE ultra groups | OneFootball

For several days, the possibility of dissolving several supporter groups in France has been on the table for French Interior minister Bruno Retailleau. The disbanding of groups is nothing new in French football, and has been used sparingly as a measure to try and stop out-of-control hooligan fighting groups and stamp out violence in grounds across France. Yet, the feeling in France is that the Interior Ministry is abusing its power to take down three major groups in French supporter culture – this is at least what the 128 supporter groups that have signed a joint statement have suggested.Three major Ultra groups: Nantes’ Brigade Loire, and both of Saint-Étienne’s Magic Fans and Green Angels are being threatened with disbandment by the French Interior Ministry. The process of studying the dissolution case for all three of these groups has already begun. Smaller non-organised groups such as Strasbourg’s hard-right leaning Offenders hooligan group and Paris FC’s ephemeral splinter group Légion X are also being pursued by Retailleau. An unprecedented communiqué by the National Association of Supporters has been signed by 128 supporter groups in France. It stakes that the measures taken by the French government “Not only put in danger our organisations that are engaged in constant dialogue with the authorities, but also puts into peril the nature of football supporters in France.”The statement critiques the Interior Ministry’s choice to “abandon dialogue and engage in a policy of repression,” warning that the disbandment of Magic Fans, Green Angels, and Brigade Loire are being aimed at with the “objective to de-structure the organisation of our stands, which risks to increase tensions.”The Association National de Supporters says that by simply disbanding both club’s only recognised supporter groups it not only has an impact on the match day atmosphere, but the security organisation and dialogue around matches. It also claims that the power vacuum left by disbanded groups in the past has led to more violence and difficulties in the organisation of matches. Representatives from most of France’s major supporter groups, including PSG’s Collectif Ultra Paris, Rennes RCK, and Bordeaux’s Ultramarines have signed among others big and small up and down the country. Notable absences from the communiqué are Olympique Lyonnais’s Bad Gones and Lyon 1950. Only one Olympique de Marseille supporter group, Fanatics, have signed up the statement.GFFN | George Boxall