The Football Supporters' Federation of Europe (FSE) sent an open letter to the French and Portuguese ministers on Tuesday asking them to end the travel ban on fans. The situation comes two days before the first leg of the Europa League quarter-final between Olympique de Marseille and Benfica, and while Marseille fans' trip to Lisbon remains uncertain.
Having become almost a norm in Ligue 1, the ban on fan movement appears to be being emulated in Europe. If French authorities want to prevent Benfica's Ultras from traveling to Marseille on April 18 for the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final, doubts remain about the presence of Olympic fans in Lisbon on Thursday. Two days before the first leg between the Portuguese club and Marseille, the Football Supporters' Association in Europe (FSE) wrote to ministers affected by the decisions to ask them to support football fans by allowing their travel. Above all, the Federation expressed its regret over the doubts surrounding the presence or absence of Marseille fans in the Portuguese capital to obtain the continental sticker.
“In light of the current situation, just over 48 hours before the first match, Marseille fans, some of whom have already traveled to Portugal, have no information about the possibility of attending the match,” the association explained in this letter addressed to Margarida Blascu and Gerald Darmanin. “In addition, thousands of fans of both teams spent money on travel and accommodation and took time off work to attend these matches.”
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“Provide access to stadium visitor parking.”
The French Football Federation was not satisfied with what it learned in the press about the ban imposed on the movement of Portuguese fans by the Bouches-du-Rhône police headquarters, and expressed its regret at the prospect of seeing Portuguese public authorities doing the same. As a reminder through this letter signed by Executive Director Ronan Even, the travel ban did not solve all problems.
“Preventing fans from attending football matches creates more problems than it solves, especially when fans travel despite the ban. The safest way to welcome fans from another city is to give them access to the stadium’s visitors’ car park,” the FA insisted. In his open statement, he stressed that “preventing fans from attending football matches creates more problems than it solves, especially when fans travel despite the ban.” A message to the two ministers. He added: “These designated areas are an essential part of ensuring the safety and security of traveling fans and are not a concession that can be withdrawn.” At any time”.
Similar to the press release signed by the two clubs, which calls for freedom of movement for fans, the Football Association concluded its letter to the Portuguese and French authorities with a request to cancel the current decree depriving fans of the trip to Marseille.
Supporters of OM still believe in it
At the moment, Marseille fan groups have informed all those who have to travel to Lisbon that they have not received any news or a counter-order from the Portuguese authorities telling them that they will not be able to go to the stadium. Marseille fans will hope that, once they arrive in Lisbon, they will be wise to be allowed into the fenced area.
It was initially hoped that 3,000 OM followers would arrive in Portugal, but that number may change by Thursday given the uncertainties surrounding the travel permit, and fear of reciprocity from the ban.
Because on the side of the Marseille Police Headquarters, there is an order in preparation prohibiting the presence of Portuguese fans around the Stade Velodrome, and in certain areas of Marseille. This would constitute a first step that would clearly move towards a travel ban on Portuguese fans on Thursday 18 April for the return match in Marseille, even if this ban has to be made official by decree of the Ministry of the Interior. .
