The French ministerial travel ban aimed at Rangers fans ahead of their clash with Lyon has been “withdrawn” according to a group who launched an emergency legal action.
The news means that Rangers fans who purchased an official ticket for the game will be “welcome” at the Groupama Stadium as groups representing supporters win their legal fight.
“We now have confirmation that the sole prefectoral order will be in force,” said Association Nationale des Supporters, who led the fight.
“The 2.000 Rangers fans who bought an official ticket for the away sector are WELCOME to the game. The ministerial travel ban was withdrawn.”
Supporters Europe (FSE) had joined together with Association Nationale des Supporters in launching emergency proceedings with the French Administrative Supreme Court.
This was after French authorities removed the rights of Rangers fans to support their side in the Groupama Stadium ahead of the game.
This was due to an apparent clash with the Festival of Lights, an annual event in Lyon set to take place between Wed 8th December and Saturday 11th.
Rangers are set to play Lyon on Thursday the 9th.
Rangers fans criticised by French government prior to reversal of Lyon decision
The move was shrouded in even more controversy when French interior minister Gerald Darmanin tried to justify the ban by describing Rangers fans as hooligans.
As quoted by RMC Sport, Darmanin said:
“To justify this decision to ban Scottish supporters from coming to watch the match in Lyon, the text is based on the recent events which surrounded the trips of the Rangers in the Europa League, ‘frequently a source of public disorder in the made of violent behavior of certain supporters or individuals availing themselves of the quality of supporter of this team’.”
These two groups are not the only ones who expressed great frustration with the decision as the Scottish Football Supporters’ Association claimed they were “deeply concerned” by the move.
They called on the SFA to give their backing to Rangers supporters and to fight for compensation whilst they also made an appeal to Westminster and the Scottish sports minister.
The SFSA have since applauded the move and applauded both Supporters Europe (FSE) and Association Nationale des Supporters for their work in reversing the decision.
The situation has yet to be confirmed by Rangers – and we’ll update this story as and when – but spare a thought for those angry fans who’ve been left out of pocket and changed their plans.
**Rangers have since confirmed that the French authorities have performed a U-Turn**
Fans were left furious at the decision – which broke yesterday – and now have a decision to make regarding travel to France.
