RC Lens has made an unprecedented decision which will shake up the Northern derby against LOSC. Following the serious incidents that occurred during the trip to Bruges in the Champions League, the Artesian management announced that the visitor parking lot would remain closed for Friday evening's match at the Pierre-Mauroy stadium. This measure, taken by the club itself, comes in parallel with the sanctions already imposed by UEFA, which imposed a fine of €80,000 and banned access to visitor parking during Lens' upcoming European trips.
The facts in Belgium were particularly alarming. UEFA identified 132 pyrotechnic devices in the Lens supporters' area, some of which were thrown onto the pitch and into other stands, even affecting people with reduced mobility. A stadium was injured by firecrackers and the referee had to temporarily suspend the match. In its press release, the club described these acts as “crossing a red line” and denounced the failure to respect the sense of responsibility which had been established before the meeting. Management clarified that the pyrotechnics had been approved collectively, despite the already known risks of sanctions.
The immediate sanction consists of not selling seats in the Lensois parking lot for the derby against LOSC. This decision is seen as symbolic, because it deprives not only the supporters involved in the excesses, but also many faithful who did not participate in any wrongdoing. The club justifies this measure by the need to guarantee security and avoid any new incidents in Lille. Lens must therefore face LOSC without the usual support of its yardage, while the Sang et Or seek to consolidate their good start to the season in Ligue 1.
In addition to closing the park, UEFA has imposed other restrictions. The club will not be able to access the visitor's park during trips to Leipzig on November 24 and Liverpool on January 27, and one additional match is suspended subject to corrective measures being put in place. RC Lens has announced that it wants to strengthen its fight against dangerous behavior, in particular by prohibiting entry to the stadium with a face hidden under a hood and by favoring nominal complaints when circumstances permit. This approach aims to hold the perpetrators of excesses individually accountable, while maintaining collective sanctions.
The club's decision is likely to provoke mixed reactions among Lensois supporters. Some will understand the need to preserve the security and image of the club, while others will feel unfairly penalized. RC Lens has, however, affirmed that it does not plan to stop its measures and that it considers this action essential to protect the integrity of the club and its supporters. The Northern derby, which promises to be one of the most anticipated meetings of the season, will therefore be played without the usual support of the Lens park, marking a significant break in relations between the management and some of its faithful.