Has Stade Rennais respected tradition? Winner of its Coupe de France quarter-final against Puy Foot (1-3), the Breton club would not have left the share of ticket revenue to its opponent, as is customary when a club from Ligue 1 faces a team from the amateur divisions. Which greatly annoyed Philippe Thiébault, financial director of the Auvergne club.
“What a great evening of football in this legendary stadium, nevertheless tarnished by Rennes’ choice to take 55,000 euros from the share due to them from the ticketing revenuehe lamented. So disappointed that the best club in Ligue 1 currently would stoop to this. For your information Mr. Pinault, your club has collected 370,000 euros in funding from the FFF since the start of the competition with this evening’s victory. Doing that to an amateur club that was not allowed to play at home, not very nice. I let social networks do the rest.”
Passing through Le Puy, the former Lyonnais Sidney Govou also reacted on X (ex-Twitter): “I am not for the trial of the networks but the gesture of Rennes says a lot about the lack of knowledge of the professional world about the amateur world. They did not realize the impact of their decision on an amateur club.”
Rennes counterattack
In an official press release, Stade Rennais quickly reacted to Philippe Thiébault’s statements. “It is with amazement and total incomprehension that Stade Rennais FC learned of the declarations of members of the management of Puy Foot 43indicates the Breton club. Supporting amateur football, the SRFC, as it had already done in the previous round with FC Sochaux (who warmly thanked it), once again donated its share of the proceeds from the French Cup match to Puy Foot 43, keeping only an amount strictly covering the expenses of his trip to St-Etienne.”
“This friendly gesture seemed to us to be welcomedhe regrets. But this is not the case. This seems all the more regrettable to us as the Auvergne leaders did not deem it appropriate to welcome their Rennes counterparts as tradition dictates. Likewise, the SRFC regrets the damage to its supporters’ vehicles observed after the match. Stade Rennais FC nevertheless wishes to salute the sporting journey of Puy Foot 43 carried by its coach Stéphane Dief and wishes its valiant opponent from last night to access the National Championship at the end of the season.”