Olympiacos accuses French authorities of hoax before Marseille match
Two days before the trip to Marseille for the second matchday of the Europa League, the Greek club Olympiacos faces two opposite scenarios: on the one hand, the official authorization for its supporters to travel to France, and on the other hand, a fiery statement that labels the French management as a “farce” and urges fans to stay away from the Velodrome.
Official authorization but climate of uncertainty
According to, Olympiacos supporters are indeed authorized to travel to attend the match against OM, despite an initial ban mentioned in a prefectural decree. Local authorities claim to have sufficient police forces to host the Greek fans, even in the tense context of recent high‑school protests.
Statement from the Greek club and denunciation of the “farce”
The club released, on Tuesday evening, a statement describing the French management as “unacceptable, dangerous and unprecedented”. It accuses the authorities of setting up an “unthinkable farce” which, according to it, discredits the French bodies and creates further insecurity for its supporters.
In this statement, Olympiacos says that thousands of supporters, following the initial ban, had to cancel their plane tickets, hotel and travel bookings, suffering significant financial losses. It also notes that hundreds of fans already in Marseille have returned to Greece, while others have given up on traveling.
The club emphasizes that, faced with this “unprecedented climate of uncertainty and insecurity”, it will not receive any tickets for the match and urges its supporters already in Marseille to leave the city safely. It adds that those who have not yet traveled should not undertake the journey.
Legal reactions and appeal to UEFA
Olympiacos announces that it will legally support any collective action brought by its supporters against the French authorities, in order to obtain compensation for the financial losses incurred. At the same time, the club has appealed to UEFA to prevent the visitor parking slots from being put back on sale, arguing that the credibility and prestige of European events must not be compromised by such decisions.
In summary, uncertainty remains 48 hours before the match between OM and Olympiacos, scheduled for this Thursday at the Velodrome. While Greek supporters are officially authorized to travel to France, the Greek club continues to denounce the French management as a farce, calling for caution and the protection of its fans.