The final of the Coupe de France was already expected to be tense, this Saturday (21 hours), because of the current social climate in France and the presence at the Stade de France of Emmanuel Macron. But the discovery Friday, in the enclosure of Saint-Denis, grids equipped with pikes at the bottom of the two bends, set fire to various associations of supporters. On the north side (FC Nantes) and south (Toulouse FC), more than 20,000 fans are expected for this final, including the ultras groups. The sight of these grids, which had not been used in France since the final of the Coupe de France 2016 between OM and PSG (2-4), even had a particular echo in Liverpool.

"Less than a year after the horrific events at the Stade de France, it is to vomit. The installation of fences in a football stadium is a horror. Have those responsible for our security learned nothing from past tragedies? Remove! ", denounces the Association of disabled supporters of the Reds, still traumatized by the chaos suffered around the enclosure of Saint-Denis before the final of the Champions League against Real Madrid.


This is a shocking development. To see this less than a year after the horrendous events at Stade De France is sickening. Fences being installed in a football stadium is horrific. Haven't those responsible for our safety learnt anything from past tragedies!! Remove them! https://t.co/w35It6nAti

— Liverpool Disabled Supporters Association (@LiverpoolDSA) April 28, 2023

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"A phenomenon of crushing on barriers"

It must be said that this security device refers to the two biggest tragedies in the history of football in Europe, with 39 deaths in Heysel (Brussels) in 1985, then 97 victims died in Hillsborough (Sheffield) in 1989. Each time, these gates preventing spectators from taking refuge on the pitch to avoid being crushed played a role in tragedies that have marked the Liverpool club for life.

In France, the National Association of Supporters (ANS) quickly stepped up to the plate also on Friday: "If there are serious incidents, the prefecture and the FFF will have to assume. In the event of an incident (fire, bomb, terrorist attack, etc.) preventing leaving the stand from above, there will be a phenomenon of crushing on the barriers at the bottom of the stand. The land must be an escape."

"The deadly mistakes of the 1980s"

The ANS announced Friday evening to have seized the administrative court of a request for summary freedom, to order the removal of these controversial grids before the kick-off of this final Nantes-Toulouse. "Does it take a tragedy for the France to decide one day to seriously work on the issue of security in stadiums? How can France make the deadly mistakes of the 1980s in England and Belgium? ", concludes the association.

Why was this controversial device chosen by the French authorities, seven years after its last use, on the occasion of a clash between two clubs with unparalleled rivalry in France (PSG and OM)? According to L'Equipe, it was the recent invasion of the Beaujoire lawn, at the end of Nantes' qualification in the semis against OL (1-0), which justified the decision of Laurent Nunez, the prefect of police of Paris. He would have explained Wednesday, during a preparatory meeting for this final of the Coupe de France, in particular in the presence of the Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin, that incidents had broken out at the bottom of the Lyon parking lot, on April 5 in Nantes.



"We can open the gates if there is a crowd crush"

A year ago, such an invasion of the field (without overflow) also took place at the Beaujoire in the semi-final, but not in the final against OGC Nice (1-0), despite the absence of grids at the Stade de France. The tenacious antagonism between the ultras of Nantes and Toulouse could also have been taken into account in this decision, as well as the period of protest in France of the pension reform dear to President Macron.

Faced with the controversy soaring around these gates, Laurent Nunez defended his choice this Saturday on BFM TV: "We can open the gates if there is a crowd crush. The French Football Federation (FFF) and the Stade de France consortium have guaranteed us this. Since the serious incidents, particularly at the Heysel, the barriers have evolved technically. They can be lowered in case of major pressure." For its part, the ANS maintains a "major pressure" on the Paris police prefecture and the FFF: "They will not be able to say that they did not know. They were told. History has told them."

  • Football
  • Sport
  • France Cup
  • Endure
  • Stadium of France
  • Toulouse Football Club (TFC)
  • FC Nantes
  • Liverpool FC