LIGUE 1
Lyon ban their own fans from away games after French Cup trouble
The French Cup last 64 game between Paris FC and Olympique Lyonnais was abandoned following crowd trouble on Friday as violence continued to hit French football.
Following disturbances at last night's French Cup last 64 game between Paris FC and Olympique Lyonnais which was abandoned as violence continues to hit French football, this morning Lyon confirmed that they will ban their own supporters from traveling to away games.
OL statement
"Olympique Lyonnais security teams have already started to analyze all the images and will use all the tools at their disposal to punish each person who is identified.Olympique Lyonnais will apply with force and determination the maximum penalties, including the stadium bans for life.
The individuals involved have no place in a stadium, violence can no longer be tolerated in the stadiums.These must be the subject of technological adjustments and be better organized to identify the troublemakers. Violence must be firmly condemned by all football players, including groups of supporters.
More than ever, we must eradicate these phenomena of hooliganism and banish all those who are enemies, by their acts, of football, but also of the clubs they claim to be.
In this context, until further notice, and until light is shed on the identification of the perpetrators, Olympique Lyonnais decides to ban groups of supporters for away matches."
Cup battles
During the Coupe de France game, supporters appeared to be fighting each other and some of them went onto the Charlety stadium's pitch and threw flares at halftime with the game tied at 1-1.
After 45 minutes, the stadium announcer came onto the field to ask fans to leave the arena.
Lyon were docked one point in Ligue 1 after their home game against Olympique de Marseille was abandoned last month after Marseille's Dimitri Payet had been hit by a bottle thrown from the stands.
French football has been marred by crowd trouble this season, prompting the government to announce on Thursday that games would be abandoned if a player or a referee is injured by a projectile thrown from the stands.
Among other measures, the government said a decision on whether to abandon a game after any crowd incident would be taken within a maximum 30 minutes after it occurred.
It also pledged to uphold more stringent stadium bans imposed on violent supporters.
French problems
Nice were docked two points, one of them suspended, after serious incidents during their game in August against Marseille, when visiting players clashed with home fans who pelted them with missiles and stormed on to the pitch.
The northern derby between RC Lens and Lille was hit by crowd problems in September, with the start of the second half delayed after rival fans threw objects at each other before people ran on to the pitch, prompting riot police and stewards to intervene.
There has also been crowd trouble in Montpellier, Angers, Marseille and St Etienne