Six hundred Lyon supporters will be authorized to support their team, last in Ligue 1, on Sunday at the Vélodrome stadium against Olympique de Marseille (8th), the Bouches-du-Rhône police headquarters announced on Tuesday. Described as Olympic, this clash between the two teams, currently in difficulty in the championship, is often the occasion for tense matches in an electric atmosphere.
After several years of ban, the Marseille authorities last year, for the first time, authorized the arrival of 200 Lyon supporters. Considering this figure too low, the groups of Rhone supporters boycotted the trip. During the return match last April at Groupama Stadium, an order from the Rhône prefecture limited the number of Marseille supporters to 400 on the evening of the match, won by OM (2-1).
An investigation into aggravated violence last year
Following this meeting, an investigation into aggravated violence was opened after incidents between supporters, in particular after the broadcast of a video on social networks of the beating of a Marseille supporter attacked by around ten individuals, thrown to the ground and beaten. Racist remarks audible on the soundtrack were also made against him.
In November 2021, the meeting between OL and OM had to be interrupted and never resumed following the throwing of a water bottle by a Lyon supporter at the Marseille captain at the time, Dimitri Payet.
The disciplinary committee of the Professional Football League later recognized the responsibility of the Lyon club which had suffered the withdrawal of a firm point in the championship and demanded that the match be replayed but behind closed doors (OL victory 2- 1 in February 2022).