Rennes-Olympiacos Europa League tie threatened by strike and protests
The UEFA Europa League match Rennes-Olympiacos, scheduled for Thursday 5 November at 18:45 at Roazhon Park, could be cancelled. A call for a general strike and large‑scale protests in Ille‑et‑Vilaine threaten the safety of the event. Local authorities doubt they can ensure crowd control.
Tense social context in France
A call for a general strike was launched by the unions for 5 November, following the protests of 17 and 24 October that gathered hundreds of thousands of people. While the majority of the marches took place peacefully, violence and looting also broke out on the sidelines. These disturbances are expected across France, including in Ille‑et‑Vilaine, where demonstrations are usually closely monitored. The unions have called for a general strike, which could affect transport and public safety.
The prefecture of Ille‑et‑Vilaine informed Stade Rennais that all police forces, gendarmerie and CRS will be mobilised to manage the social movement on 5 November. Consequently, no security arrangements can be deployed around Roazhon Park for the match against Olympiacos. This situation makes holding the match on that date practically impossible. The term RMC appears in the official reports concerning the match’s security.
Olympiacos supporters are subject to heightened monitoring by the National Directorate for the Fight against Hooliganism. Their travel had also been prohibited at the last minute for the Europa League match against OM at the Vélodrome on 15 October, a match that ended with a 1‑0 victory for OM.
Proposed solutions by Stade Rennais and UEFA
Stade Rennais, in liaison with the authorities, is actively discussing with UEFA to identify a solution. Among the alternatives, moving the match to Wednesday 4 November, even at the risk of overlapping the Champions League fixtures, is being considered. Postponing the encounter to a later date or playing it on a neutral ground also features among the scenarios being examined. A final decision, all the more difficult because the 18:45 slot had been set for several weeks, should be announced at the beginning of next week.
In the meantime, supporters of both clubs remain uncertain about the staging of the European duel. Fans are awaiting an official announcement to plan their travel. The schedule for the fourth round of the Europa League now depends on the evolution of the social climate in France.