For the French Cup final (Friday, May 22 at 9pm) between RC Lens and OGC Nice, authorities anticipate a massive displacement of Lens supporters, with nearly 40,000 Sang et Or fans expected in the capital. Between escorted convoys, the arrival of thousands of fans at the Gare du Nord, and a supervised “fan walk,” the security system will be particularly reinforced around this highly anticipated game.
A highly anticipated moment. According to RMC Sport, authorities expect more than 40,000 RC Lens supporters to take their place at the Stade de France for the French Cup final against OGC Nice. The fans will travel to the capital on 70 buses and 5 trains chartered for the occasion. Authorities expect the “at-risk” supporters of RC Lens, totaling 1,200, to travel on about ten coaches. As is usually the case, law enforcement has designated meeting points for supporter convoys to organize a police escort to the Stade de France.
According to RMC Sport, authorities will be very attentive to the situation at the Gare du Nord. Five trains from the north of France are expected to arrive with several thousand Racing supporters. Fans will have to make their way to the Stade de France via public transportation, and this type of situation will be closely monitored by authorities to avoid incidents in the capital. Another point of vigilance will be the “fan walk” organized by the Lens fans, where authorities expect “a massive use of pyrotechnic devices and detonations” during the walk just before the match.
Less than 20,000 OGC Nice supporters
On the other side, some OGC Nice supporters may boycott this match. Between 1,000 and 1,500 members of the Populaire Sud are currently expected to arrive on 13 buses. Here too, authorities have designated a meeting point to organize a police escort. Authorities also remember the incidents that occurred before the 2022 French Cup final between Nice and Nantes. Just under 20,000 Aiglons supporters are expected to take their place at the Stade de France.
According to police sources, 80 at-risk supporters from Dogues Virage Est (DVE) and the LOSC Army could come to the aid of the Niçois during this match. “It is likely that the Lille supporters will seek to engage with Lens supporters,” said the officers from the National Division for Combating Hooliganism, in their instructions issued in recent days.
