Fans of Lyon and Paris FC clashed during their match at Charlety Stadium in Paris on Dec. 17, resulting in both teams being booted from contention in the French Cup.
The teams will pay an expensive price as a result of the melee, which occurred during their meeting in the French Cup Round of 64. Flares were directed at Lyon’s supporters before the confrontation moved onto the pitch as hundreds of fans descended from the stands at halftime.
The game was first paused, then called off as mandatory security measures for the players and the public could not be assured. At the time of the interruption, the two teams were tied at 1-1.
This weekend’s Coupe de France action has begun with Lyon fans attacking Paris FC fans. French football & violence are unfortunately the best of bedfellows this season. pic.twitter.com/lme5o0pINB
— Get French Football News (@GFFN) December 17, 2021
Hefty fines, point deductions, supporters banned
The decision to expel both Lyon and Paris FC from the Cup was taken by the French Football Federation following a vote. As a result, Nice will now advance to the Round of 16 without playing. Lyon was handed a €52K fine, with Paris FC ordered to pay €10K. The two clubs were also given a suspended ban for the 2022-23 French Cup. Paris will play its next five home fixtures behind closed doors as a consequence of the incidents earlier this month.
The turbulence at Paris FC v Lyon were the latest in a series of crowd problems that football authorities, clubs and players have been battling since the start of the campaign. Lyon’s home game against Olympique de Marseille was also abandoned in November because OM’s Dimitri Payet was hit by a bottle thrown from the stands, with a similar incident taking place at Nice vs. Marseille in August.
As a consequence of their fans’ behavior, Nice was docked two points, one of which is a suspended sentence. Lyon was docked one point while its fans were banned from traveling to away games this season. The Lyon supporter who targeted Payet was given a six-month suspended prison sentence and won’t be able to attend games at Lyon’s stadium over the next five years.
