Female Lens supporters file legal complaints over “intrusive & abusive” searches from French riot Police during Derby du Nord | OneFootball

According to a report from Le Parisien, several female supporters of Racing Club de Lens have now filed legal complaints against security staff as well as French CRS riot Police over intrusive and abusive searches during last weekend’s Derby du Nord. The reports have surfaced in reaction to interior minister Bruno Retailleau’s statement on X on violence allegedly committed against CRS officers.Several anonymous accounts had been circulating on social media reports of the abusive behaviour from Police and security forces, before Her Game Too France opened up an online form to collect statements from victims and witnesses.“We were immediately informed of the intrusive and intolerable searches carried out yesterday at Pierre Mauroy by a judicial police officer, notably through our ambassador Her Game Too for Racing Club de Lens present on site. We have been working since yesterday evening to contact the victims,” posted the organisation on X yesterday.Body searches at stadiums in France by Police, especially for away supporters, have been increasingly criticised in recent years. The French National Supporters Association has denounced over the past years an “urban myth” taken literally by CRS Police and security services that women supporters “hide flares or fireworks in intimate areas of their bodies.”In 2023, there were reports from supporters of Lens as well as Lille of abusive searches for women supporters as Le Havre. The same was reported by Saint-Étienne supporters at AS Monaco last August. GFFN | George Boxall