AS Saint-Étienne president Ivan Gazidis defends ultras groups facing dissolution
AS Saint-Étienne president Ivan Gazidis has publicly defended the club's two main ultras groups, the Magic Fans and the Green Angels, who are facing a renewed threat of dissolution by the French state. In an editorial published in the regional newspaper Le Progrès, Gazidis argued that disbanding the structured supporter groups would not solve underlying problems of violence around matches.
The two groups have been summoned to appear before the National Commission for the Prevention of Violence at Sporting Events on April 13. This state body holds the power to order the dissolution of supporter groups. According to Gazidis, the procedure stems from three separate incidents involving the groups. These allegedly include confrontations among fans in the away section at Troyes on November 8, clashes with police in Dunkerque on December 6, and a brawl with Grenoble supporters before a match on March 14.
Gazidis, citing the French football league (LFP), highlighted the security measures at Saint-Étienne's stadium as among the most effective in the country. He questioned the logic of the proposed dissolution, asking whether dismantling two identified groups engaged in ongoing dialogue was the most useful or coherent response. The president warned that dissolving structured groups risked displacing tensions into less visible, less regulated spaces that would be harder for all authorities to manage.
The club president is not alone in his opposition. According to a joint statement reported by AFP, the new Socialist mayor of Saint-Étienne, Régis Juanico, and PS MP for the Loire region, Pierrick Courbon, also stated their opposition to the dissolution on Wednesday. This political backing underscores the sensitive nature of the issue in a city where the supporter culture is deeply woven into the club's identity.
This is not the first time the groups have faced this threat; they avoided dissolution following a similar procedure last year. The context comes amid a broader national focus on stadium security and fan violence in France. Recent high-profile cases, including the 2022 killing of former rugby player Federico Aramburu in Paris by a far-right militant, have kept the issue in the political spotlight, though that incident was not directly linked to football supporters.
The outcome of the April 13 hearing could have significant implications for the matchday atmosphere at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, known for its intense support. For now, Gazidis's public intervention represents a firm stance from the club's leadership, advocating for dialogue and managed engagement over outright prohibition as it seeks to protect a core part of its heritage while addressing safety concerns.
