"A line has been crossed": Lens justifies sanction against its own supporters for North derby against Lille

RC Lens banned its own supporters from travelling to Lille on Friday after dangerous pyrotechnics at Bruges injured disabled fans and a steward.

RC Lens has justified its decision to ban its own supporters from Friday's Ligue 1 derby at Lille, a rare and firm sanction following incidents at Bruges in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Lens supporters set off numerous flares in their section at Bruges, with some directed at the pitch and toward disabled fans in the Handifan Club section below. A steward was also injured by firecrackers. UEFA sanctioned Lens with an €80,000 fine and a two-match European away ban, with a third match suspended.

The club stated that a line had been crossed that was jointly defined with supporter groups last season following previous incidents at Metz, Lille, London and Reims. "The safety of people and players must never be endangered," the club said. The Nord prefecture also issued an order banning Lens fans from the stadium. The club will not open the away section at Lille on Friday, citing the symbolic proximity to the Bruges trip and the impossibility of ruling out similar behaviour.