The first OM vs. PSG match of the season will once again take place without Paris Saint-Germain supporters in the away section of the Vélodrome. As reported by RMC Sport, the Bouches-du-Rhône prefecture has already issued an order banning their presence in Marseille in connection with the match scheduled for September 20, part of Matchday 5 of the 2026-2027 Ligue 1 season.
“Any person identifying as a Paris Saint-Germain supporter is prohibited…”
“From 8:00 AM on Sunday, September 20, 2026, to 2:00 AM on Monday, September 21, 2026, any person identifying as a Paris Saint-Germain supporter—or behaving as one—is prohibited from entering the Orange Vélodrome stadium and from moving about or parking on public roads within the 1st, 2nd, 6th, 7th, and 8th arrondissements of Marseille.”
The measure therefore goes well beyond a simple ban on entering the away fan section. It covers several Marseille districts for a period extending from Sunday morning until 2:00 AM the following day.
The Ministry of the Interior is also expected to issue a travel ban order during the week leading up to the match. According to RMC Sport, the OM vs. PSG fixture is also likely to be classified as “maximum risk” (level 5 out of 5) by the National Division for Combating Hooliganism.
Fundamentally, the decision comes as little surprise. Season after season, the authorities renew this policy for Le Classique. While the approach helps reduce the risk of clashes, it also highlights the limitations of the current model: rather than organizing a highly controlled away trip, the chosen option remains the total exclusion of visiting supporters.
“This antagonism also manifested itself during a concert”
“This antagonism also manifested itself during a concert by the Marseille-based singer JUL at the Accor Arena in Paris on November 13, 2020, when individuals claiming to be Paris Saint-Germain supporters burst in during the performance, set off flares, and assaulted audience members wearing Olympique de Marseille jerseys.”
To justify its order, the prefecture therefore also cites past incidents unrelated to matches between the two clubs. While maintaining a state of maximum vigilance around OM vs. PSG is understandable given the rivalry between the two sides, the systematic recurrence of these bans inevitably raises questions. “Le Classique” remains one of the biggest fixtures in French football, yet it continues to be played without both sets of fans present—a situation that has become a sort of routine anomaly for the match.
