this is what the Marseille fan-zone reserved for Dutch fans looks like
Nearly 5,000 Dutch supporters are expected in Marseille for the semi-final second leg of the Europa League Conference this Thursday at the Vélodrome stadium. They don’t all have their entry ticket. It is estimated for the moment that 3,200 of them already have their access to the stadium, but it is between 1,000 and 1,500 Dutch who are expected in Marseille, without a ticket.
A fan-zone with food-truck, beer and DJ
To cope, a “fan-zone” is set up in Marseille to welcome these Dutch supporters from Feyenoord Rotterdam. As France Bleu Provence told you this Tuesday, a space is reserved for them at the Prado beaches. The barriers are installed from this Wednesday and this “fan-zone” will be accessible from this Thursday 10 a.m., but only for dutch supporters, whether they were a ticket for the Velodrome or not. This space will be equipped with places to eat in the form of food-trucks and the musical atmosphere will be animated by a DJ. On site, one of the organizers confirmed to France Bleu Provence that 10,000 liters of beer have been provided for the supporters.
At the time of the match, Dutch supporters with tickets will be able to reach the Vélodrome on board shuttles, under the escort of the police, in order to guarantee their safety and avoid clashes with Marseille supporters. Clashes have already taken place this Wednesday afternoon at the Old Port.
A meeting under high security
The establishment of this fan-zone was decided after several meetings between the prefecture, the town hall of Marseille and Olympique de Marseille. Thursday’s meeting is classified “level 5” in terms of security by the authorities, which is the maximum level. Feyenoord Rotterdam is indeed known to have a particularly violent fringe of supporters. Traffic and parking on public roads for Feyenoord supporters is also prohibited in the 1st, 2nd, 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th arrondissements since Wednesday 10 a.m. and until Thursday 11:59 p.m.
Inside the stadium, Dutch supporters will gather in the “visitors’ zone” and a buffer zone empty of spectators will be set up between this stand and the Jean Bouin stand. Note that the north-east bend is closed to the public for this match, following the incidents that occurred during the first leg of the Europa League Conference quarter-final against PAOK Salonika.