French police arrest Feyenoord fans at the border ahead of Champions League match in Lille

Dozens of Feyenoord fans banned from traveling to Lille for a Champions League game between the two clubs have been turned away or arrested at the border
FILE - Fans of Feyenoord light flares during the Europa League Group F soccer match between Sturm Graz and Feyenoord at the Merkur Arena in Graz, Austria, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022. (AP Photo/Florian Schroetter, File)

Credit: AP

Credit: AP

FILE - Fans of Feyenoord light flares during the Europa League Group F soccer match between Sturm Graz and Feyenoord at the Merkur Arena in Graz, Austria, Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022. (AP Photo/Florian Schroetter, File)
Nation & World
Updated Jan 29, 2025
X

LILLE, France (AP) — Dozens of Feyenoord fans banned from traveling to Lille for a Champions League game between the two clubs have been turned away or arrested at the border, French authorities said Wednesday.

The Prefecture du Nord, which represents the French state in the Lille region, said 86 fans of the Dutch team have been refused entry to France and that 30 have been arrested.

Police officers seized pyrotechnic devices and various objects that could be used as weapons during their checks, the prefecture said.

France’s interior ministry said the travel ban was introduced because of a “real and serious risk of confrontation” between fans of the two teams ahead of Wednesday's match at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.

The French authorities said Feyenoord's travels are often marred by "public order disturbances due to the violent behavior of certain supporters or individuals claiming to be supporters of this team," and they cited several examples of fan violence.

In May 2022, there were violent clashes in France between Marseille and Feyenoord fans outside the Stade Velodrome stadium before their Europa Conference League semifinal game.

There were also violent clashes in Lille city center when the club played Bulgarian side Levski Sofia in the Europa League in 2010.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

FILE - Feyenoord's fans chant slogans before the start of the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Feyenoord and Salzburg, in Rotterdam, Netherlands, Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Patrick Post, File)

Credit: AP

icon to expand image

Credit: AP

In Other News
1
Fresh lawsuit hits Oregon city at the heart of Supreme Court ruling on...
2
Panama's president says there will be no negotiation about ownership of...
3
Middle East latest: Eight hostages are released from Gaza in exchange...
4
Emotions pour from tight-knit skating community following DC plane...
5
Apple's iPhone sales during the holiday season slipped despite a highly...