RC Lens manager Franck Haise has criticised the French authorities’ decision to ban Sevilla fans from travelling to the Stade Bollaert for Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League fixture between the pair.
Just two days before the match between the two sides, France’s Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin told Brut that Sevilla fans would be banned from attending Tuesday’s fixture. The measure comes after many Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 games were disrupted by a temporary government edict, banning away supporters. The measure comes in the wake of the death of an FC Nantes fan prior to their match against OGC Nice on December 2nd. Until 18th December, all games considered “high-risk” are at risk of seeing away fans banned.
Lens fans willing to offer tickets to Sevilla supporters
Sevilla have been taken aback by the ban, and in an official statement, revealed that they had not been informed of a ban, neither by the French authorities nor by UEFA. The La Liga club have announced that they have lodged a formal complaint with the latter concerning the last-minute ban. “We believe that our fans are being unfairly treated and a dangerous precedent is being set regarding supporter travel,” added Sevilla in their strong denouncement of the decision.
The decision has not sat well with Lens either. The Ligue 1 club’s main fan group, the Red Tigers 1994, released a communiqué on Sunday, not only criticising the ban but going so far as to offer tickets to Sevilla fans, in order to allow them to attend. “The Sevilla supporters have already bought their tickets and paid for their travel arrangements, for their accommodation and shouldn’t have to suffer for your incompetence,” read Red Tigers 1994’s statement.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference, aired by RMC Sport, Haise has also sought to criticise the authorities. “I regret the decision, especially given how late the information came […] How are we going to manage the Olympic Games (set to be held in Paris from 26th July 2024), if we can’t welcome 300 Sevilla fans on French soil? There is a big problem,” said Lens’ manager.
Whilst Lens cannot secure progression to the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League, they can secure a place in the Europa League should they earn a draw against Sevilla on Tuesday.
GFFN | Luke ENtwistle
