PSG, Lyon join Macron in condemning fan violence before French Cup final / Photo: © AFP
-
Meta employees allege discriminatory AI-driven layoffs
-
Kenya denies Rastafarians the right to smoke weed
-
India's Sindhu targets medal at home world championships
-
Generative AI's power sparks fears of dumbing humans down
-
UN warns of cracks in global immunisation system
-
'Like my lover': Chinese users bid farewell to AI companions
-
Bangkok bar fire toll rises to 32 as PM vows venue overhaul
-
Empty skyscrapers: China's property slump still throttling growth
-
Badminton underdogs enjoy 'amazing' 16 minutes of fame in Japan
-
Cuba slowly gets power back after latest blackout
-
US expands sanctions targeting Iran oil, cryptocurrency sectors
-
AI demand powers forecast hike, profit gains at tech giant ASML
-
'We don't have time': Montenegro's bird haven fading
-
Aussie Rules removes Indigenous figure from Hall of Fame
-
Dutch tech giant ASML posts gain in second-quarter profits
-
France set to adopt assisted dying law in final vote
-
US renews blockade, trades strikes with Iran over Hormuz strait
-
Australian swimmer O'Callaghan reveals she has spinal fractures
-
Australian PM says to enact laws to govern AI
-
Argentina and England collide with World Cup final spot at stake
-
China's economic growth hits slowest pace in more than three years
-
AI ignites 'ignored sector' for Japan chipmaker Kioxia
-
Seoul leads Asian stocks higher as US inflation eases rate fears
-
Writers union sues to block US Paramount deal
-
Duped or spun with juju: how sex trade trafficks Nigerian women
-
UK announces social media curfew for older teens
-
France fireworks fizzle as Spain advance to World Cup final
-
Italy court to rule in deadly bridge collapse case
-
Gibraltar and Spain end border checks
-
Tuchel unfazed by history ahead of England v Argentina World Cup semi
-
UK climate now hotter, sunnier: weather agency
-
Scaloni says fatigue not a concern for Argentina in World Cup semi-final
-
Rice declared fit to start for England in World Cup semi-final
-
Mac Allister calls on Argentina to channel Maradona spirit in England World Cup clash
-
'Immense disappointment': Mbappe rues end of World Cup dream
-
Key battles as England face Argentina in World Cup semi-final
-
Viva! Delirium in Madrid as Spain reach World Cup final
-
Deschamps says France 'devastated' by defeat, questions referee
-
NFL Texans co-founder McNair dead at 89
-
IBM shares plunge 25% as AI spending boom disrupts business
-
Spain deliver World Cup masterclass against France to reach final
-
Majestic Spain stun France to reach World Cup final
-
Brook upbeat about England ODI form amid Test captaincy uncertainty
-
Nasdaq rebounds as cooling US inflation weighs on dollar
-
Record-smashing heat wave surges from West to eastern US, Canada
-
Hurdles record holder Tharp claims first win as professional in Budapest
-
Wildfires that ravaged historic forest outside Paris contained
-
McIlroy and Scheffler unconcerned by their place in golf history
-
NY state pauses new large data center projects in US first
-
Gill enjoys more Edgbaston success as India beat England in 1st ODI
PSG, Lyon join Macron in condemning fan violence before French Cup final
Paris Saint-Germain and Lyon echoed French President Emmanuel Macron by condemning Sunday the violence that broke out between rival football fans heading to Saturday's French Cup final that left 38 people hurt and a bus burnt to a crisp.
The clashes erupted on Saturday at a toll gate 60 kilometres (40 miles) from the northern city of Lille between fans of Lyon and PSG en route to the showpiece match, which Macron attended.
The final went ahead amid heightened security with PSG winning 2-1, but it was overshadowed by the clash involving about 100 Lyon supporters and 200 PSG fans -- according to a police source.
One bus was set on fire and two others 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".
In a statement Sunday, PSG said it "condemns in the strongest possible terms the incidents" that occurred between the two sets of fans.
"The club would like to specify that its supporters scrupulously complied with the travel regulations set out in the prefectoral decree before being attacked," the Parisian club added.
"Such behaviour in no way reflects the values of respect that the club stands for."
Lyon said in a statement it "condemns this violence" and later blamed "a clear error" in route planning.
"For reasons that are still not clear the police escort decided to pass seven Lyon buses in the middle of the 18 PSG coaches at the toll booth in Fresnes.
"And that was after all parties involved had been working for the past two months on separating the (traffic) flow.
"As a result of such an obvious route error violence erupted with its origin yet to be determined."
The statement noted that several Lyon fans had been injured by armed PSG supporters.
"The club encourages victims to take legal action from today so that light can be shed on these events."
Police did not indicate which group of fans launched the attack.
Mingling with the public in nearby Tourcoing ahead of the game, Macron said Saturday he "condemns all violence with the greatest firmness."
The French Football Federation called the violence "unacceptable".
A.Zbinden--VB
