About thirty ultra supporters of AS Saint-Etienne were arrested at their homes on Monday morning September 19 and placed in police custody as part of an investigation into the violence that occurred at the end of May at the Geoffroy- Guichard after the L1 / L2 play-off match, according to several concordant sources.
The operation called “Ultras 42” began at 6 a.m., mobilizing a hundred police officers, said a source close to the investigation. The arrested supporters are suspected of having participated in the violence that occurred on May 29, inside the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium after the final whistle and the defeat of the Greens against Auxerre (1-1, 4 tab to 5), synonymous with relegation to Ligue 2.
Six withdrawal points in the Ligue 2 championship
The departmental direction of public security of the Loire had revealed in recent months that four police officers were working full time on this case, in particular by exploiting the images of the 250 cameras from inside the stadium, as well as those of the city of Saint- Etienne, near the enclosure.
In the seconds following the penalty shootout, hundreds of ultras had invaded the lawn, showing their anger by launching smoke bombs and firework mortars towards the official stand, sometimes with tight fire. This violence involving 150 to 200 men, often hidden under hoods, scarves and scarves, lasted nearly two hours and caused significant damage.
Following these incidents, the Disciplinary Committee of the Professional Football League (LFP) inflicted on ASSE six withdrawal points in the Ligue 2 championship, three of which were closed, and six matches behind closed doors, two of which were suspended. .