Marseille’s European night was already carrying a security shadow before Olympiacos arrived at the Vélodrome. The Europa League meeting on Thursday has been placed under particular scrutiny because of the long-standing links between Marseille supporters and those of AEK Athens, Olympiacos’ fierce Greek rivals.
Footage circulating on Wednesday appeared to show groups of Marseille ultras, seemingly joined by AEK supporters, moving through central Marseille in search of visiting Olympiacos fans. Dozens were reported to have entered hotels in the city centre.
No clashes or injuries had been officially reported by the eve of the match. But the images heightened concerns around a fixture already regarded as high-risk by the authorities.
Quick facts
- Marseille host Olympiacos on Thursday in the second round of Europa League fixtures.
- The security concerns stem partly from Marseille supporters’ historic relationship with AEK Athens fans.
- AEK and Olympiacos are major rivals in Greek football.
- Olympiacos supporters were initially affected by a Marseille prefecture order restricting their movement in the city.
- The Greek club advised its own fans not to attend, citing insufficient safety guarantees.
The prefecture had first issued an order preventing Olympiacos supporters from moving around Marseille, although France’s Interior Ministry did not prohibit their trip to the country. That left visiting fans eventually able to travel, but in a climate of uncertainty that angered the Piraeus club.
Olympiacos urged supporters not to put themselves at risk by attending the match. The club condemned what it described as an “unthinkable farce”, arguing that the changing decisions had damaged the credibility of the authorities and created even greater danger for fans.
In a strongly worded statement, Olympiacos said the existing measures did not provide enough protection for supporters already in Marseille or for those still planning to travel. The club said the successive and contradictory decisions had undermined its confidence in the ability of French authorities to manage such a serious security issue.
Olympiacos added that it would not expose its supporters to danger under those circumstances. On the pitch, Marseille hope to begin their European campaign with a convincing result; outside the stadium, the priority is ensuring the tension surrounding the fixture does not spill into violence.
