Social protest was invited to the Stade de France, this Saturday, April 29, on the sidelines of the final of the Coupe de France, which saw the victory of Toulouse. The sporting event was placed “at high risk” by the prefecture and Emmanuel Macron preferred not to tread the lawn. Shortly before kick-off, the Head of State therefore greeted the Nantes and Toulouse players in the corridor leading to the field, at the exit of the locker rooms.
“While whistles are part of a certain folklore at the Stade de France, the President of the Republic has always respected the tradition of saluting players which he has reinstated. However, this year, it is clear that certain political and union leaders are willing to orchestrate an event aimed at diverting the attention of the evening (…) to a political fight”, it was explained in the entourage of the Head of State.
The French president also did not hand over the Cup to the winner from the lawn, as had been the practice for three years and the Covid crisis. The prefect of police, Laurent Nuñez, had decided that the trophy to the winner would be presented in the grandstand because “it prevents the invasion” of the lawn. It was in the presidential gallery that the president handed the cup to Toulouse, all smiles, but without any image being broadcast on the screens of the stadium.
The match started at 9 p.m. in a full Stade de France and in a great atmosphere, with in particular an impressive Toulouse tifo “Let’s bring it back to the Place du Capitole”, fireworks and smoke on the Nantes side. The Marseillaise also sounded in the stadium, without whistles
Throughout the beginning of the evening, the supporters, sometimes under police escort, accessed the Ile-de-France enclosure in a calm atmosphere, with yellow or purple smoke, noted Agence France-Presse (AFP). According to a police source, 21 people were arrested because of smoke bombs or pickpocketing, while “Paris hooligans wanted to attack individuals”.
In this final played in a context of social tension, sports encouragement has completely taken precedence over social discontent. Even the 49th minute remained calm as the unions called for whistling in rejection of the pension reform. Almost no red cards, handed out outside the stadium but confiscated by security, were waved among the crowd.