Latest news with #Saint-Étienne
Express Tribune
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
William Saliba targeted by Real Madrid for this summer
Arsenal centre-back William Saliba has emerged as a top summer target for Real Madrid, with reports suggesting the Spanish giants view the Frenchman as a long-term leader in defence. Saliba, 24, widely considered one of the Premier League's standout defenders, impressed during Arsenal's recent UEFA Champions League quarter-final clash with Madrid. His one-on-one duels with Kylian Mbappé drew praise from pundits and may have solidified Madrid's belief that the former Saint-Étienne man is ready to anchor their backline. According to L'Équipe, Madrid are looking to reinforce their central defence this summer, with Saliba at the top of their shortlist. The Spanish champions are said to view him as a potential successor to stalwarts like David Alaba and Antonio Rüdiger, amid growing concerns about both age and injury risk. Saliba's stock has soared since establishing himself in Mikel Arteta's starting XI. Arsenal have made clear they want to keep him, and the player is under contract until 2027, having signed a long-term extension last summer. However, interest from a club of Madrid's stature may test the Gunners' resolve. The defender market across Europe is expected to be active this transfer window, particularly for French internationals. Saliba joins a growing list of names linked with moves or contract negotiations, including Ibrahima Konaté at Liverpool, Dayot Upamecano at Bayern Munich, Benjamin Pavard at Inter Milan, Loïc Badé at Sevilla, and Lucas Hernandez at PSG. Madrid, fresh off a high-profile Champions League campaign, are looking to reshape their squad as part of a broader rebuild, with Kylian Mbappé also reportedly set to join the club this summer. While no formal offer has been made, all signs point to a potential high-stakes summer saga involving Saliba, Arsenal, and one of Europe's most ambitious clubs.
The Guardian
21-04-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Fan arrested after assistant referee hit on head with object at St-Étienne
A man has been arrested after an assistant referee was hit by an object thrown from the stands during Saint-Étienne's 2-1 home win over Lyon in Ligue 1 on Sunday. Lyon were about to take a throw-in in the 44th minute when the official, Mehdi Rahmouni, was shown holding a hand to his head after being hit by what appeared to be a coin, L'Équipe reported. Lyon's medical team attended to the assistant referee before the players and officials left the pitch. The game was interrupted for about 40 minutes. 'Based on information provided by the club and in collaboration with the authorities, the individual was arrested as he left the stadium and is now in police custody,' Saint-Étienne said in a statement. 'Saint-Étienne will file a formal complaint against him tomorrow. The club will also act with the utmost severity, imposing its own strictest sanctions to ensure this isolated act does not go unpunished.'
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
French National Supporters' Association announces ‘end of dialogue' with authorities
French National Supporters' Association announces 'end of dialogue' with authorities The tone has been increasing in French football over the proposals from French interior minister Bruno Retailleau to disband three major supporter associations at Nantes and Saint-Étienne. On Saturday, the French National Supporters' Association – and organisation which is made up of most major supporter organisations in France – announced that it had ended talks with the authorities regarding the preparation of matches. At a press conference organised in Paris on Saturday, the group that represents most of France's ultra movement has also threatened to put pressure on the authorities and 'put itself in a position to dissolve all groups, returning to a total absence of dialogue with supporters and a return to the situation of 15 years ago.' Advertisement The announcement of the French National Supporters' Association has come in the context of the French government's plans to disband three major supporter groups in France: Brigade Loire (FC Nantes), Magic Fans (Saint-Étienne), and Green Angels (Saint-Étienne). What does this mean for the management of supporters in France? In practice, it means that France's police authorities, including the the National Division for Combating Hooliganism as well as Supporter Liaison Officers will no longer be able to communicate with groups during the organisation of matches. 'without supporters providing information to the SLO, the authorities cannot organise away trips and matches in a peaceful environment.' This comes in the context of the French Sports Ministry refusing a meeting with national representatives of supporter groups last week over the disbandment plans. Last week, an unprecedented communiqué by the National Association of Supporters had been signed by 143 supporter groups in France. It stakes that the measures taken by the French government 'Not only put in danger our organisations that are engaged in constant dialogue with the authorities, but also puts into peril the nature of football supporters in France.' GFFN | George Boxall
CNN
17-03-2025
- Sport
- CNN
Soccer match in France postponed after fans throw flares and start fire in stands
A top-flight soccer match in France between Montpellier Hérault and Saint-Étienne was postponed on Sunday after fans let off flares which started a small fire in the stands. Saint-Étienne had been 2-0 up against relegation-threatened Montpellier before the referee halted the match around the hour mark. Video footage shows black smoke billowing from behind one of the goals inside Montpellier's Stade de la Mosson, as red flares were thrown onto the pitch by fans. Montpellier supporters could then be seen running to the back of the stands as a small fire appears to temporarily break out. Montpellier later said that some people had been injured in the incident. CNN has asked the club about the nature of the injuries. Referee François Letexier initially paused the game while security tried to calm the situation, but he eventually brought the players off the pitch before the game was postponed. 'By decision of the public authority, it was decided not to resume the match,' Letexier said at a press conference, according to the Ligue 1 website. CNN has reached out to the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP), a body which runs French soccer, for comment about the incident. It is unclear whether the result will stand or whether the roughly 30 minutes still left in the match will be played on another date. Montpellier currently sits rock bottom of the French top flight with fans growing frustrated by their team's struggles this season. In a statement sent to CNN Monday, Montpellier said it 'strongly condemns the violence that took place on Sunday afternoon.' It added: 'The club is now awaiting disciplinary action.' Saint-Étienne, which sits one place above Montpellier, was without fans on Sunday after French authorities banned them from traveling due to a high risk of violence, according to the Associated Press. CNN has reached out to Saint-Étienne for comment about Sunday's incident.
CNN
17-03-2025
- Sport
- CNN
Soccer match in France postponed after fans throw flares and start fire in stands
A top-flight soccer match in France between Montpellier Hérault and Saint-Étienne was postponed on Sunday after fans let off flares which started a small fire in the stands. Saint-Étienne had been 2-0 up against relegation-threatened Montpellier before the referee halted the match around the hour mark. Video footage shows black smoke billowing from behind one of the goals inside Montpellier's Stade de la Mosson, as red flares were thrown onto the pitch by fans. Montpellier supporters could then be seen running to the back of the stands as a small fire appears to temporarily break out. Referee François Letexier initially paused the game while security tried to calm the situation, but he eventually brought the players off the pitch before the game was postponed. 'By decision of the public authority, it was decided not to resume the match,' Letexier said at a press conference, according to the Ligue 1 website. CNN has reached out to the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP), a body which runs French soccer, for comment about the incident. It is unclear whether the result will stand or whether the roughly 30 minutes still left in the match will be played on another date. Montpellier currently sits rock bottom of the French top flight with fans growing frustrated by their team's struggles this season. CNN has reached out to Montpellier regarding Sunday's incident in the club's stadium. CNN has also reached out to Saint-Étienne for comment. Saint-Étienne, which sits one place above Montpellier, was without fans on Sunday after French authorities banned them from traveling due to a high risk of violence, according to the Associated Press.
