Saint-Étienne president Gazidis defends ultras groups facing dissolution
AS Saint-Étienne president Ivan Gazidis has publicly defended the club's main ultras groups, the Magic Fans and Green Angels, who are facing a renewed threat of dissolution by the French state. In a column published in the regional newspaper Le Progrès, Gazidis argued that disbanding the structured supporter groups would not solve the underlying problems of violence.
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 authority to order the dissolution of supporter groups. According to Gazidis, the club has been informed that the procedure stems from three separate incidents. These allegedly include confrontations among travelling fans in Troyes on November 8, clashes with police in Dunkirk on December 6, and a fight between Saint-Étienne and Grenoble ultras before a league match on March 14.
Gazidis, the former chief executive of Arsenal and AC Milan, contended that dissolution is a counterproductive measure. He pointed to an assessment by the French Professional Football League (LFP), which reportedly highlighted the security measures at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard as among the most effective in the country. "Dissolving structured, identified groups engaged in ongoing dialogue does not make problems disappear," Gazidis wrote. "It risks displacing tensions into less visible, less regulated spaces that are more difficult for all of us to control."
This is not the first time the groups have faced such a threat, having avoided dissolution following a similar procedure last year. The president's intervention adds significant weight to the groups' defence, framing the issue as one of security management rather than mere sanction. Local political figures have also rallied to the cause. On Wednesday, the new Socialist mayor of Saint-Étienne, Régis Juanico, and Loire department MP Pierrick Courbon issued a joint statement expressing their "opposition to the dissolution of the AS Saint-Étienne supporter groups."
The case unfolds against a backdrop of heightened scrutiny on football fan behaviour in France, with the interior ministry recently targeting several other supporter groups across the country. For Saint-Étienne, currently pushing for promotion from Ligue 2, the potential loss of its most vocal and organised supporters represents a major off-pitch concern. The decision on April 13 will have profound implications for the matchday atmosphere at the famously fervent Geoffroy-Guichard and for the club's relationship with its most dedicated fans.
