French President Emmanuel Macron condemned “with the greatest firmness” violence that broke out Saturday between rival soccer fans on their way to the Coupe de France final that left 38 people hurt and a bus burnt to a crisp.
The clashes, ahead of Kylian Mbappe’s final appearance with Paris Saint-Germain in their 2-1 victory over Olympique Lyonnais, erupted at a toll gate 60km from the final in Lille, which Macron attended.
One bus was set on fire and two others were damaged, local Nord department authorities said in a statement overnight, adding that 30 supporters and eight police officers were injured. Fourteen people required “medical attention.”
Photo: AFP
The clashes involved about 100 Lyon supporters and 200 PSG fans, a police source said.
Police prefect Bertrand Gaume said one group of supporters got out of their bus and attacked another carrying rival fans, who threw smoke bombs.
“There were very violent brawls” before police intervened, Gaume said, adding that one bus was left burnt out.
Photo: AFP
Mingling with the public in nearby Tourcoing ahead of the game, Macron said he “condemns all violence with the greatest firmness.”
The supporters’ group Paris Ultras Collective said in a statement that fans of the two clubs had been supposed to take different routes to the match, but Lyon fans attacked a bus carrying PSG supporters.
Police did not indicate which group of fans launched the attack.
Meanwhile, after the game, PSG coach Luis Enrique said he had been lucky to work with Mbappe after the superstar forward played his last game for the club.
“I think I have been lucky to coach Kylian, but it has been a difficult season for him because after seven years and all he has achieved it is always hard to say goodbye, but he was always prepared to help the team and tonight was the cherry on the cake even if he didn’t score,” he said.
Mbappe made his farewell appearance for PSG before an expected move to Real Madrid, but he was unable to add to his club-record tally of 256 goals with Ousmane Dembele and Fabian Ruiz scoring on the night.
Dembele and Ruiz netted in the first half and PSG then withstood a Lyon comeback attempt after the break following a Jake O’Brien goal which reduced the deficit.
The most successful side in the history of the French Cup, PSG have won the trophy 15 times, including seven times in the last decade and four since Mbappe signed from Monaco as a teenager in 2017.
The victory allowed PSG to complete a domestic league and cup double in Luis Enrique’s first season as coach, although the campaign remains overshadowed by their exit from the Champions League in the semi-finals against Borussia Dortmund.
“To finish with a trophy in a final, there is no better way. It feels really good,” Mbappe said.
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