A firecracker thrown from the stands and a referee who collapses. In December 2000, the Meinau stadium was the scene of a serious incident. In the middle of RC Strasbourg-FC Metz, Nelly Viennot went out on a stretcher, bleeding, before the match was stopped.
Two decades later, the Alsatian enclosure is no longer in the news for overflows. Better still, the atmosphere that reigns there is regularly cited as one of the most beautiful in France. ” It was extraordinary. Frankly magnificent. I had been told about it, I can see, ”still enthusiastic Strasbourg defender Gerzino Nyamsi in mid-September. After a derby from the East, still facing the Messins, without a hitch. Has La Meinau become exemplary?
“There are still regular incidents but which are managed”, nuance Alain Plet. The deputy general manager of the club cites in particular “jets of projectiles [des gobelets] or the use of smoke ”. “In these cases, we apply the Larrivé law [de 2016] which allows us to pronounce bans on the sale of tickets or suspension of subscriptions “, he explains, explaining that” any deviant behavior must be sanctioned “.
“A relationship of trust” with the supporters, according to the club
To avoid them as much as possible, RC Strasbourg has been relying for years on dialogue with its fans. As in most clubs, a post of “supporter liaison officer” was even created in 2018. Arnaud Szymanski occupies it. “I am in permanent contact with associations, even more ultras. They do not always agree with us but none is a problem, he explains. We also do a lot for them, such as giving them access to the stadium to install their equipment. A relationship of trust has been established and they feel considered. “
“We talk a lot and things are going very well,” confirms Philippe Wolff, president of the RCS supporters’ federation. “A kind of respect has settled with the club. Even when there are problems on the pitch, we don’t try to score against our camp. Better, associations like his would rather be of the type to prevent one of their members from slipping. “I can’t be behind the 600s but someone who does anything is not hard to see. And I won’t go and defend him afterwards. “
“Our supporters will be the first to catch the culprit”
“There has been a lot of communication campaign on the subject. Our supporters will be the first to catch the culprit, ”continues Alain Plet, who can also rely on a reinforced security system at each meeting. With “300 to 350 people mobilized”, not to mention all the cameras. How much precisely? “Enough to cover all the hotspots of the stadium, with four operators behind the screens,” replied the deputy general manager, “without wanting to teach anyone a lesson.”
Because Racing knows it, all these measures can be undermined by an isolated act. As in Lyon on Sunday evening, where an individual threw a bottle of water in the face of Marseille player Dimitri Payet. “OL are a very well organized club. An idiot who throws something, it can happen anywhere. It is our fear, it could put doubt here and ruin all the work of several years. We are not immune to anything. “