“At the moment, whether in Saint-Etienne, Marseille or Nantes, we are witnessing a growing grumbling among weaned stadium supporters. Compared to that, I am a little divided. On the societal side, I have the feeling that the economic and health situation exacerbates all forms of aggression. Most of the people are ill, suffer from lack of social contact, money, affection. At one point, the pressure cooker explodes … And it spills over into football. From there to draw great philosophical debates on the evil of French football. How far can the escalation of French supporters go? No…
“I refuse to reduce the word supporters to these individuals”
For me, it is necessary to distinguish between what can happen in Saint-Etienne, Nantes and Marseille. As we must distinguish between supporters and thugs. On the news channels, we make a bit too much of an amalgamation between the supporters of OM and these individuals who ransacked the training center. The supporters of Marseille, they are disgusted that their club is badly sporting. Even if, for me, with the squad they have, I do not see how we could hope to fight for the title against Paris, Lille, Lyon or Monaco.
Those who looted the Commandery are not supporters. Real supporters, they are Saint-Etienne – Le Puy with 42,000 people in the grandstand in the 2nd division, it’s Lens, it’s Marseille as during the European Cup match against Leipzig in 2018 … I I refuse to reduce the word of supporters to individuals who have come to loot and extort the players. The training center is supposed to be a sanctuary. La Commanderie, la Gaillette, L’Etrat … These are places that respect each other. Where the players invest every day in their profession even if, sometimes, this is not transcribed on the field on weekends.
“In Sainté, no major incidents to deplore”
In Saint-Etienne, I saw an invasion of the training center but we have to separate the events. Last week, following the derby, the Green Angels on Friday then the Magic Fans on Saturday, came through the doors of the Etrat to explain themselves on the field with the players and the staff. ASSE is in a much more complicated position than OM and yet there have been no major incidents or violence to deplore. In Nantes, we are more in the irony even if it is a recurring mistrust of the management in place … And this does not date from the Kita era. I remember a time not so long ago when supporters chased Robert Budzynski to explain. Today, it’s against Kita. I understand that his policy is being called into question. It may seem legitimate with the changes of coach, the disappointing sports results but it can not justify everything either.
“Anger is understandable but …”
In the cases of Marseille, Saint-Etienne or Nantes, there is only one common denominator: they are historic clubs where people are tired of looking at looking at yellowed results sheets. ASSE said titles but the last date from Matuzalem. Nantes is the same … Anger is understandable. However, I do not condone any form of physical or verbal violence. As I never endorsed the attacks on the man or his family with banners on the highways as was the case at the OL in the days of Genesio or the OM in the days of Anigo. I’ve always found it to be puzzling. There is no longer any hindsight. I would understand that we are reaching out to supporters for a dialogue. But in these cases, it is also necessary to find valid interlocutors. Not just vindictive or brutal people ”.