Despite the numerous security measures adopted, clashes broke out on Thursday afternoon on the esplanade of the Groupama stadium after the Europa League match between OL and Besiktas (0-1). Although opposing fans were prohibited from traveling, relatives of the club and the Turkish players were present in the hallways. And they were visibly seen by Lyon fans during the Besiktas goal celebration.
“We couldn’t even see the stadium anymore because there was a lot of tear gas smoke.”
At the end of the match, the Turkish fans came out through the side door (H), visibly a little upset, with their arms raised and chanting. It was at that moment that a group of Lyon fans came into contact to fight with the Turks present. A spectator from Lyon, witness to these confrontations, told what he saw on RMC’s After, on Thursday night.
“There was a scream, something that alerted people that they were heading towards this thing,” he explained. “The CRS did not give details, they gassed everyone, mothers, children. It hit me in the eyes and throat. I lost my uncle in the general crush. Then there were screams, the supporters ran in the opposite direction and then the CRS They made everyone back away. As people came out of all the doors, the CRS shot firecrackers into the air that released smoke. We couldn’t even see the stadium because there was so much tear gas smoke.
The police intervened quickly using tear gas, justified by the prefecture because the Lyon fans grabbed garbage cans and barriers to establish contact. At night, eight people were arrested, seven of them for non-compliance with the prefectural decree. The Besiktas players’ bus was able to leave the stadium without incident.
Source: BFM TV
