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Saint-Etienne fans banned from French league game at fellow struggler Montpellier
Saint-Etienne's fans light flares before the French League One soccer match between Saint-Etienne and Paris Saint-Germain, at the Geoffroy Guichard stadium, in Saint-Etienne, central France, on December 15, 2019
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SAINT-ETIENNE supporters have been banned by French authorities from travelling to Montpellier for this weekend’s Ligue 1 game between the two relegation-threatened clubs because of a high risk of violence.
Montpellier sits rock bottom in the French league standings, with Saint-Etienne just one spot above in 17th place.
The French authorities said Saint-Etienne’s travels are often marred by “public order disturbances due to the violent behaviour of certain supporters or individuals claiming to be supporters of this team,” and noted that some Montpellier fans are also prone to violence.
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