PSG, Marseille closed-door bans remain

June 26, 2009

PARIS (AFP) – Paris St Germain and Marseille will play one of their next matches in an empty stadium, the French Football Federation said on Friday.

The measure, previously imposed on a suspended basis, is being enforced to penalise the two French first division teams for the repeated use of flares and smoke bombs by fans, FFF president Jean-Pierre Escalettes said.

“The offence has been committed again, so the suspension is liable to be set aside,” he said, while conceding that other legal procedures still need to be heard.

The Paris club became the subject of the original order, upgraded from a fine, by a FFF tribunal following St Etienne’s visit to the Parc des Princes in the French capital on February 14.

Marseille were also ordered to play a match behind closed doors, subject to conditions, following various smoke bomb incidents, in particular during a fixture against Lorient on November 15 last year.

In a separate decision, Marseille and PSG were additionally sanctioned by the FFF for various disciplinary incidents during the course of the season.

After appealing to the the French Sports and Olympic Council to help conciliate in the matter, the two clubs may now have recourse to a civil court the make a judgement in the case.