The Etang de Thau stand, at the Mosson football stadium, in Montpellier, is again closed for two matches and one suspended. It will remain closed until the end of the season, Montpellier having only two games left to play at home (May 14 against Lorient and May 27 against Nice).
On April 23, during the reception in Rennes, more than a hundred smoke bombs had been lit by the Armata Ultras. The group of supporters had celebrated their 20th anniversary with the help of a giant tifo retracing the history of the association born in 2002. Before, in the 20th minute, they cracked smoke bombs and launched fireworks in the stands, leading to the interruption of the meeting by the referee, Ruddy Buquet.
“Don’t make me blow up too many smoke bombs anyway, that would be nice”
In a video message, the president of the Montpellier Hérault Sport Club Laurent Nicollin wanted to wish them a happy birthday: “twenty years ago, you were very dizzy, I admit it. It was complicated to manage. With age, we learn to recognize ourselves, to grow, to evolve. I see that the adventure has continued, the adventure has changed, you have grown, you are bigger and bigger”.
Without really believing it, Laurent Nicollin had asked them “if possible not to make me blow up too many smoke bombs anyway, that would be nice. I know it’s your specialty but there you go… It’s always been discussions we’ve had between us”. A pious wish…
The Etang de Thau stand had been closed for six matches following the throwing of smoke bombs on the lawn on the lawn against Nantes (0-3), on January 15, and the deployment of homophobic banners on Sunday January 15. It was reopened for this game.