Lyon, France – The presence of Dutch football supporters in Lyon for Thursday’s Europa League match between Olympique Lyonnais and Go Ahead Eagles led to significant disturbances, vandalism, and clashes with law enforcement, leaving a sour note despite OL’s 2-1 victory.
Pre-Match Incidents and Vandalism
Before the 9 PM kickoff, a portion of the 1,600 visiting Dutch fans gathered in various central city squares, including Place des Terreaux. While their presence was initially noted by passersby, the situation deteriorated as they departed for the Groupama Stadium. The area was left in a state of disarray, littered with waste and numerous glass beer bottles.
En route to the stadium around 6:45 PM, Go Ahead Eagles supporters were reported to have “damaged ticket validators and soiled a T5 tram carriage taken between Grange Blanche and Bron Eurexpo,” according to authorities.
Stadium and City Centre Altercations
The evening’s disturbances escalated after 11 PM within the Groupama Stadium. Police intervened in the visitor section “to break up a fight between Dutch supporters that resulted in a minor injury.” The injured individual reportedly sustained wounds from “the use of a handheld tear gas device.”
Minutes later, riot police (CRS) were again called into action “after being targeted by supporters who threw bottles at law enforcement officers.” A third police intervention was necessary in the visitor section due to another brawl among Go Ahead Eagles fans, which also resulted in an injured person requiring medical attention from firefighters.
A final incident of violence occurred later, shortly after 2 AM, in Lyon’s city centre. Police reported that Dutch supporters were once again involved in an internal altercation. “An individual punched the victim, who had to be transported to the hospital by firefighters. The perpetrator was apprehended after attempting to flee,” a security source stated.
Olympique Lyonnais Secures Victory Amidst Chaos
Despite the unrest caused by the visiting fans, Olympique Lyonnais secured a 2-1 victory against Go Ahead Eagles, a result that propelled the Gones to the top of their Europa League group standings. However, the post-match discussions in Lyon have largely focused on the disruptive behaviour of the Dutch contingent rather than the sporting achievement.
Local authorities are expected to review the incidents and consider potential measures to prevent similar occurrences in future international fixtures. The scale of the damage and the number of interventions required highlight the challenges faced by host cities when managing large groups of visiting football supporters.
Source: https://actu.fr/auvergne-rhone-alpes/lyon_69123/lyon-degradations-violences-les-supporters-hollandais-laissent-un-gout-amer-dans-la-ville_63569528.html
