The Racing Club de Lens has decided to prohibit the sale of tickets for its fans in the next derby against Lille, which will be played this Friday at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy, after the incidents that occurred on October 21 in Bruges during the third day of the Champions League. The measure, announced in a statement, prevents Lens fans from attending the match as punishment for the conduct of their fans in the European competition.
In Bruges, Lens fans threw fireworks and projectiles onto the pitch, even though the club was under a conditional ban banning the presence of its away team. UEFA described the acts as “dangerous and hostile pyrotechnics”, and had already imposed sanctions in the past, such as a ban on selling tickets for the matches against Leipzig and Liverpool. Lens lost 3‑0 in that match, which intensified the club's reaction.
The Lens statement highlights that the decision responds to a “red line” that was not implicit, but had been defined together with the fan groups last season to guarantee the safety of everyone. The club claims that the irresponsibility of the fans in Bruges “ignores the sense of responsibility that everyone should have promised.” In addition, the club reiterated that access to the stadium is prohibited for those wearing balaclavas and that, from now on, complaints will be directed at specific people instead of anonymous groups.
With this measure, Lens seeks to prevent future incidents and send a clear message to its fans. The upcoming derby against Lille will be played without the presence of the visiting Lens team, and the club will maintain the strict sanctions policy for as long as circumstances require.