Magic Fans and Green Angels ‘to face’ renewed threat of dissolution | OneFootball

AS Saint-Étienne’s ultras groups, Magic Fans and Green Angels, face a renewed threat of dissolution from Interior Minister Laurent Nunez. Their representatives are due in Paris on 13 April for a hearing before a newly formed national consultative commission.

RMC Sport reports that the process, revived on Wednesday one April despite the date, is part of a wider Interior Ministry push targeting several hooligan or extreme groups as well as supporter collectives nationwide.

An initial threat came under Bruno Retailleau, since replaced by Nunez. The groups lead the atmosphere in the North and South ends at Geoffroy-Guichard.

Local politicians, including MP Pierrick Courbon for the municipality, criticised the accelerated timetable and have sought a meeting with Nunez to voice anger and avoid dissolution. Courbon says it would not improve public safety and that state-ordered measures agreed last year by club, authorities and fans need time to be implemented.

AS Saint-Étienne says its stance is unchanged, condemning violence but insisting dissolution is not the answer. The club and police would lose key interlocutors, and some fear isolated acts in the stands as a consequence.

A local security source warned that scrapping the groups would remove organisers for away travel and bring more drawbacks than benefits for public order. The move also comes as Les Verts chase a return to the top flight, which could be overshadowed if the Magic Fans and Green Angels vanish.

Source: Le Progres