Away fans in France banned from matches until mid-December

A ban on away supporters attending matches in France has been extended until mid-December after a ruling from the Interior Ministry.

Terrorist attacks in Paris – one of which took place outside the Stade de France where France were playing Germany – killed 130 people on November 13.

Since then, high-profile international matches in Belgium and Germany have been cancelled for security reasons and there have been restrictions on travelling fans for some domestic and European matches involving Belgian clubs.

An LFP statement said the ban will include Ligue 1, Ligue 2 and Coupe de France games, as well as applying up to and including the Champions League and Europa League fixtures held in France between December 8 and December 10.

The continental matches affected will include Paris Saint-Germain’s game against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League and Bordeaux’s Europa League meeting with Rubin Kazan.

The league stated that the measure was “because of a lack of availability of security forces during the state of emergency” while France’s capital hosts a climate change conference for 12 days from November 30.

Since the attacks in Paris, security checks at stadiums have been increased – with screenings at metal detectors, search and seizure of bags and body pat-downs now being strictly enforced.

Home supporters who are still allowed to attend fixtures have been urged to get to matches at the earliest possible opportunity in order to assist with the new security controls and minimise queues ahead of kick-offs.