Saint-Etienne Fans Banned from Travelling to Marseille for Rivalry Match

Eppe Franklyne –

• French authorities have banned Saint-Etienne supporters from attending the Ligue 1 game in Marseille due to safety concerns.
• The interior ministry cited a “real and serious risk of confrontation” between the rival fanbases.
• Marseille, currently in second place, will face struggling Saint-Etienne, sitting 16th in the league.
• The rivalry between Marseille and Saint-Etienne has a long history, marked by past clashes and intense fan animosity.

French authorities have issued a ban on Saint-Etienne supporters attending the upcoming Ligue 1 match against Marseille this Saturday. The decision, announced by the interior ministry, is due to concerns over the potential for violent confrontations between the fanbases. The rivalry between these two clubs, both with large and passionate followings, has seen frequent clashes, sometimes resulting in injuries and property damage.

Marseille, currently ranked second in Ligue 1, is set to face Saint-Etienne, who are struggling in 16th place. Although the rivalry between these clubs is not as internationally renowned as the “Le Classique” between Marseille and Paris Saint-Germain, their historical battles have been heated. Saint-Etienne, with 10 league titles, once dominated French football alongside Marseille, which won the only French Champions League title in 1993.

The animosity between fans has often spilled over into violent incidents, such as the March 2024 ambush by Saint-Etienne fans on Marseille supporters, resulting in stone-throwing and retaliatory violence. Despite Saint-Etienne’s decline in form over the years, their encounters with Marseille continue to be fiercely contested, both on and off the pitch.