Eintracht Frankfurt fans will not be able to celebrate through the city at the upcoming Champions League duel at Olympique Marseille. That sets out a regulation. Most recently, there was violence in the duel between Cologne and Nice. But in Marseille, too, there is always a bang.
After violent riots with 32 injured at a game of 1. FC Köln in Nice, the freedom of movement of Eintracht Frankfurt fans in the game against Olympique Marseille in the southern French city is significantly restricted. For the Champions League game on Tuesday, Eintracht fans must be brought to the stadium in buses accompanied by a police escort, according to an order from the Bouches-du-Rhône department.
Another regulation states that the fans of the Hessian club are not allowed to be out and about in the center of Marseille. The prefecture justified the restrictions by saying that 3,300 Eintracht fans wanted to travel to the game with stadium tickets. In addition, up to 5,000 other German fans can be expected, including “several hundred” who are “potential Ultras”.
A clash between fans of Eintracht Frankfurt and Olympique Marseille around the stadium and in the city center could lead to clashes and “disruptions to public order”, the prefecture emphasized. Olympique Marseille’s last two games against other European clubs had been marred by incidents.
The riots in Nice on Thursday were also a warning. According to several sources, hooligans disguised as Cologne fans smuggled themselves into the guest block during the Europe Conference League game between OGC Nice and 1. FC Köln. Several hundred of them stormed from the guest grandstand to another grandstand and fought there with fans of OGC Nice.
As reported by the Sport Information Service (SID), the disciplinary chamber of the European football association UEFA opened proceedings against 1. FC Köln and OGC Nice on Friday evening. The FC must therefore answer for three violations. As a possible sanction, the club could face having to do without fans in future away games.
(This article was first published on Saturday, September 10, 2022.)
