As the Groupama Stadium prepared for Lyon’s 2-1 win over Nice, the North Stand turned its attention beyond the pitch. Bad Gones supporters unveiled three banners before Sunday’s Ligue 1 match, backing those affected by violence that had struck the city a day earlier.
Bad Gones address violence in Lyon
The historic Lyon supporters’ group used the closing fixture of Ligue 1’s seventh round to respond to Saturday’s disorder in the Rhône city.
- The banners referred to looted businesses, damage across the city and the targeting of the Bocuse institution.
- They expressed support for “those who keep Lyon alive”.
- The message came after unrest on the margins of demonstrations supporting the student movement and protesting the rising cost of living.
Several thousand people had gathered at Place Bellecour as part of the cost-of-living protest. Authorities counted 20,000 demonstrators in total, with most of the march taking place peacefully.
Tourist office destroyed and police injured
The disorder left significant damage in central Lyon. A branch of the tourist office on Place Bellecour was set on fire and destroyed, while numerous shops were looted.
Mayor Grégory Doucet described the scenes as “appalling”, condemning the chaos that gripped the city for several hours.
Étienne Guyot, prefect for the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, said the scale of the riots was without precedent and that police had first needed to protect lives.
- 100 police officers were injured during clashes with rioters.
- 160 people were taken into custody.
- Of those detained, 124 were adults.
Ligue 1 clubs hit in Lille and Marseille
The disruption was not confined to Lyon. Official club shops in Lille and Marseille were also vandalised and looted.
Both Ligue 1 clubs strongly condemned the violence and confirmed that the affected stores would close temporarily.
