May 25, (THEWILL)- Ugly scenes unfolded ahead of the Coupe de France final between Olympique Lyon and Paris Saint-Germain, as a brawl broke out between ultras of both clubs, resulting in two buses being set alight at the Arras toll plaza. Despite speculation about a potential postponement, the match proceeded as scheduled.
According to reports monitored by THEWILL, some individuals were believed to have sustained injuries. The Prefecture du Nord confirmed the “interruption of traffic on the A1 motorway in both directions at the Fresnes-les-Montauban toll plaza” due to the incident.
L’Equipe reported that “two Lyon coaches ended up in an area designated for the Parisians, where eighteen coaches were expected. According to the Pas-de-Calais, around a hundred people were involved.”
PSG condemned the violence, stating that “the Lyon coaches involved were not supposed to use this route and changed it to save time.” Upon arrival at the stadium, around twenty people were treated by the ambulance service for injuries sustained during the clashes.
Despite the unsavoury events leading up to the final, the match between Lyon and PSG proceeded with Lyon behind by two goals in the second half. Yet, the incident has once again cast a pall over French football and raised concerns about the safety and security measures in place for high-profile fixtures and the Olympics later this year.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
