The Stade de France will host the final of the Coupe de France on Saturday (9 p.m.) between Toulouse and FC Nantes, defending champion of the competition. The meeting is classified at risk by the police, while 3,000 police officers will be mobilized.
A year ago, Nice faced Nantes in the final of the Coupe de France. On the sidelines of this meeting, several incidents had broken out in the streets of the capital. For this match, more than 1,000 police forces were mobilized. A few weeks later, France experienced the fiasco at the Stade de France, with the Champions League final between Liverpool and Real Madrid (6,800 police and gendarmes mobilized throughout the Paris region that day). On Saturday, Nantes challenge Toulouse in the final of the Coupe de France. Between the possible presence of Emmanuel Macron in the stands, the rivalry between the two clubs and more than 700 ultras in the stands. Maximum security.
3,000 police forces on the ground
A year later, it was the first risky match that was organized on the grounds of Saint-Denis. The matches of the French rugby or football team are not comparable. It is therefore a preparation to the millimeter that takes place for this meeting. To secure from the simple EDF meter, to the two contingents of supporters, the Ministry of the Interior will deploy more than 3,000 police and gendarmes on Saturday evening around the Stade de France. 24 Mobile Forces Units (UFM) will therefore be present around the enclosure for this meeting and a little less than 1,500 stewards inside the stadium. “It’s considerable, supports a police officer. It’s also a higher number around the Stade de France compared to the Champions League final. There will be uniforms clearly visible on Saturday evening.”
51 buses will leave Toulouse to reach the capital on Saturday, as many on the side of FC Nantes. Not to mention the supporters transported by train and plane. Law enforcement units will also be present on the route to reach Paris during the day. “It is from the descent of the bus in Saint-Denis that the mission becomes more serious”, explains a police officer. With this in mind, and as for the final of the Champions League, two places are made available for the gathering of Nantes and Toulouse supporters. Both places are located in Saint-Denis, the Prefecture of Police has learned lessons from the past. During the Liverpool-Real Madrid match, Liverpool fans had a fan zone in the heart of the capital. This had delayed the delivery of English supporters to the Stade de France.
The fear of overflowing in the streets of Paris
In fact, this meeting is ranked 4 out of 5 by the services of the DNLH. A few days ago, a fight went completely unnoticed. It took place in Auxerre. In a bar in the city, a rather violent scene broke out between supporters of FC Nantes, members of the Brigade Loire, and members of Karsud, supporters of PSG. The scene turning on messaging groups like Telegram is the big fear for police services on Saturday night. “You must also understand that this final is not the only event in Paris on Saturday, and therefore we must avoid fights in the streets of the capital during the day”, adds this police officer.
The fear that this scene could be reproduced in the streets of Paris in the middle of the day is great. A fight broke out last year, just before the Coupe de France match, near Gare de Lyon. A brawl had broken out at the exit of the Gare de Lyon involving supporters who were going to the final of the Coupe de France with another group which included an inscription “Antifa”, resulting in 2 minor injuries.
Finally, the possible presence of Emmanuel Macron is well taken into account. Another possible threat is the power cut, which has become almost automatic each time the president moves. The subject is taken very seriously and, according to information from RMC Sport, four generators are planned to deal with any eventuality at the Stade de France. The EDF meters will be secured by law enforcement. As well as grids installed in front of the two bends of the Stade de France to avoid intrusions on the lawn. Obviously the idea of the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games is in everyone’s mind, it will be July 26, 2024. “We are going to move forward step by step, but each event is a life-size test”, ends the police officer.