After several dissolutions in 2025, the Ministry of the Interior will target several supporters’ groups again, according to information from RMC Sport. At least two historical associations of AS Saint-Etienne will be affected by the process initiated by Laurent Nunez against ultras groups throughout France.
At the beginning of 2025, Bruno Retailleau, then Minister of the Interior, initiated a dissolution procedure targeting several supporters’ groups in France. Following examination by the national consultative commission for the prevention of violence during sports events, a group, not recognized by Paris FC, was dissolved. However, the Green Angels and Magic Fans, the main supporters’ groups of AS Saint-Etienne, escaped the sanction.
A few months later, the issue of supporters resurfaced. Now in charge of the Ministry of the Interior, Laurent Nunez recently announced a reform of the administrative stadium bans system. It doesn’t stop there. According to information from RMC Sport, the Ministry of the Interior has also decided to relaunch a dissolution procedure targeting several supporters’ groups across the country. According to several sources close to the matter, the two supporters’ groups of ASSE are concerned.
Representatives of the ultras groups will be heard in hearings in the coming days before a possible dissolution. Initial hearings are expected to take place on April 13 in front of a newly formed commission. The two main supporters’ groups of AS Saint-Etienne are once again among the targets of the authorities.
Last season, the leaders of AS Saint-Etienne had, however, provided sufficient guarantees to avoid the dissolution of their supporters’ groups. A year ago, the procedure against ASSE groups had triggered a strong mobilization in the region, as well as in French stadiums. The Saint-Etienne club had also made commitments regarding collaboration with state services and law enforcement within the club’s perimeter.
Other lesser-known and recognized “groups” in the public sphere could also be affected in the coming weeks by the process initiated by the Ministry of the Interior, so the situation could evolve.
These groups may be classified as hooligans or extreme factions, often small groups. They are far from the popular supporters’ groups of ASSE, which gather thousands of members.
