Nantes-Lens: “The solution was to gas and club families”, Lensois supporters

The Lens supporters, who came in number (1,000), lived a dirty afternoon at the Beaujoire stadium this Sunday, for the match of the 23rd day of League 1. Not only because of the failed performance of the players, sanctioned by a logical defeat (3-1). But also because of incidents that have occurred in their gallery.

From the 30th minute, the Lensois parking was gradually emptied. One might think that it was a protest manifestation after the goal of the Nantesis Louis Leroux.

As the stewards are not numerous enough to search the supporters who started to get upset because the match had started. Many supporters, including families, were still blocked outside after kick -off. The situation degenerated with a crowd movement, followed by an intervention by the police, which would have loaded and then gassed the Lensois supporters.

“Nantes security was not ready”

“The Lensois buses arrived a little late but the Nantes security was not ready to manage as many people. There was only an open door where we were searching, for hundreds of people. I do not understand why they did not open other doors. The match had started and the police loaded and gassed, also bathing people on the ground. While the info circulates, while the groups animated the parking, it was decided by the associations to leave the gallery, “said a witness in La Voix du Nord.

In solidarity, the ultras decided to enter the tarpaulins and join the stadium forecourt. The Nantes Kop, the Loire brigade has launched messages of support for their northern counterparts.

The 1994 Red Tigers, a group of Ultra Lensois, published a press release to give their version of the facts.

« While the so -called active sections had returned, in particular our association since it organized an animation, the family tendency supporters were impatient, and sought to return. The weakest response being that of the strongest, the solution was to gas and club families, women, children. Being aware of the situation, the capo passed this information in the gallery, bringing all the sections to start, and supporters interested in leaving the gallery. We thank them. After a long time, we were allowed to leave the forecourt and the parking lot. The time of liberticide decisions is over, ”write in particular the 1994 Red Tigers.

This Saturday, other incidents had been to be deplored before a Ligue 1 match. In Auxerre, before the match against Marseille, 14 people were injured following clashes between supporters.