Lyon-ASSE derby classified as very high risk | OneFootball

According to a report by L’Équipe, the derby between Olympique Lyonnais and AS Saint-Étienne on Sunday evening has been classified as very high risk by The National Division for the Fight Against Hooliganism (DNHL).

This does not come as too much of a surprise after the Rhône prefecture enacted a banning order on Saint-Étienne supporters on the 29th of October, which was later supported by an order from the Minister of the Interior on the 5th of November, meaning Saint-Étienne fans will not be allowed to travel to Lyon or attend the game.

The Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, justified the decision by pointing towards historic antagonism between the rival sets of supporters. He also suggested that “the police are [already] heavily mobilised to deal with the terrorist threat, which remains current and significant… and this threat is significantly increased by the risks of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict being imported into the national territory.”

Rivalries in France played without away supporters

Rivalries in France are often played without any away supporters. Recently travelling fans were both once again subject to travel bans ahead of Le Classique and the Choc des Olympiques. For Le Classique, Paris Saint-Germain supporters have not been allowed to attend the Stade Vélodrome since 2015.

GFFN | Nick Hartland