OM-PAOK: tense situation in Marseille with Greek supporters – RMC Sport

The situation is tense in the streets of Marseille, a few hours before the start of the Conference League quarter-final between OM and PAOK Salonika (9 p.m.). It is a meeting under very high tension. It has already gone up several notches in the last few hours in the streets of Marseille before the Conference League quarter-final between OM and PAOK Salonika (9 p.m.). Several clashes erupted in the city center on Wednesday night with Greek fans. Calm apparently returned on Thursday. But the situation remains tense, especially in the La Joliette district. Several dozen police vehicles Many PAOK Salonika supporters gathered in front of the Joliette theatre, all dressed in black. Some are already in a very drunken state, others are holding wooden bats. An organized fight with Marseille supporters is feared and several dozen police vehicles are present on the scene. The Prefecture of Bouches-du Rhône has classified this meeting as high risk due to the presence of 3,000 opposing fans with a boiling reputation. According to our information, the PAOK had committed in writing to the Prefecture of Bouches-du Rhône , that the Greek supporters do not come to the city center of Marseille. It was even one of the prerequisites for accepting the arrival of 3,000 PAOK fans. As of Wednesday evening, this commitment was not kept, with several hundred Greek fans gathered in a hotel near the La Joliette district. Clashes then took place when a few groups of Greek supporters came out and were attacked by Marseille ultras. On Wednesday evening and today, the local authorities told UEFA and PAOK of their misunderstanding of the fact that the Greek supporters did not respect the instruction to avoid the city centre. PAOK fans normally meet at an undisclosed location outside Marseille for a more secure and escorted bus arrival. Police and CRS are mobilized to avoid clashes before or after the match. Several incidents have marred the European career of Jorge Sampaoli’s men this season. The meeting between OM and Galatasaray (0-0) in the Europa League was marred by the throwing of projectiles and strong tensions between the two camps in the stands. She had even been briefly arrested. UEFA had imposed the closure of the North stand of the Velodrome for the reception of Lazio Rome, on November 4 (2-2).>> Subscribe to RMC Sport offers to watch the Conference LeagueThe reception of the Italians had also been marked by jets of projectiles in the direction of the field and the brief stoppage of the meeting. The round of 16 of the Conference League against Basel was also marked by incidents before kick-off between Marseille and Swiss supporters on a roundabout near the stadium. Several people had been arrested. Such a scenario is again feared this Thursday.NC with F.Germain BFM Marseille