Saint-Étienne risks closure of both kops until January

AS Saint-Étienne could find itself deprived of its two popular stands until January, with the LFP disciplinary commission set to rule on Wednesday on a possible closure of the Kop Sud following the already confirmed closure of the Kop Nord.

The Kop Nord was closed for three home matches following incidents that occurred on October 24 during the stand’s 35th anniversary celebration. Tifos, flares and fireworks animated the Geoffroy-Guichard stands, but the LFP deemed these festivities contrary to regulations. Around 8,000 supporters are thus deprived of their usual enclosure until January 29 and the home reception of Dunkerque, after the visits of Nancy (December 12) and Boulogne (January 15).

The Kop Sud is now in the same crosshairs. During the home game against Laval, the Green Angels deployed three tifos and lit flares in their stand. The disciplinary commission, traditionally strict on the use of pyrotechnic devices, could hand down a closure of at least two matches.

If this sanction is confirmed on Wednesday, the two lungs of Geoffroy-Guichard would remain silent simultaneously for the matches against Nancy and Boulogne. A paradox for a club that has not lost a single home match this season in Ligue 2, its six victories having been driven in large part by the energy of these same stands.