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It has been understood by the Guardian that away football fans will be banned from attending top matches in France until mid-December. The country remains in a state of emergency following the Paris attacks with the Climate Summit in the capital also around the corner.
The ruling applies to league matches in the country's top two divisions as well as Champions League and Europa League matches.
“The Interior Ministry has issued an order banning away fans for the 15th round of Ligue 1 matches, and the 16th round of matches of Ligue 2, this weekend,” the French League (LFP) said in a statement on Thursday.
“Another order, with the same provisions, will be issued very soon regarding the 16th, 17th, 18th rounds of Ligue 1, the 17th and 18th rounds of Ligue 2, the eighth round of the French Cup and the round of the Europa League (Dec. 8 and 10).”
“These decisions are justified by the lack of police forces available in a period of the state of emergency and by the organisation of the COP21 (Climate Summit),” read the statement.
On Thursday night, Tottenham had travelled to France to play AS Monaco in their Europa League fixture, but the Ligue 1 side are due to play at White Hart Lane in their final Group J fixture on December 10. It remains to be seen whether the ruling may affect their travelling fans in any way.
France still recovering from the deadly attacks on its capital
The nation has been in a state of emergency since coordinated attacks by Islamic State members on Paris bars, restaurants, a concert hall and a football stadium, that killed 130 innocent civilians and left at least 350 injured on November 13.
On that day, Stade de France played host to an international friendly between Germany and France, but the home side’s 2-0 victory was overshadowed by explosions in the city. Terrified by the explosion, the supporters rushed onto the pitch after the game while the German national team was also held at the stadium along with their French peers for their own safety. The incident instilled fear across the nation.
Since then, everyone across the world has shown solidarity with Paris in their time of crisis and during England’s friendly against France at Wembley Stadium earlier this month, the arena was lit up with France’s tricolour, paying tribute to the victims.
Meanwhile, the Climate Summit, which will involve representatives from more than 190 countries, will be held in the nation’s capital from November 30 to December 11.
