PARIS — Supporters of Feyenoord have been prohibited from traveling to Lille for the upcoming Champions League group stage match against Lille, according to a directive from the French authorities.

On Wednesday, France’s interior ministry issued a statement emphasizing the “real and serious risk of confrontation” between the fans of both teams, prompting the ban.

The match is scheduled to take place on January 29 at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille.

The authorities noted a troubling history concerning Feyenoord supporters, citing frequent incidents of “public order disturbances” associated with violent behavior from some fans or individuals claiming to be affiliated with the team.

Citing past violent episodes, the ministry revealed that while 3,600 fans were planning to attend the match, only 2,600 seats had been designated for Feyenoord fans.

They expressed concern that out of the 1,000 supporters intending to travel without tickets, some might attempt to gain unauthorized access to the stadium.

There have been significant altercations in France involving Feyenoord fans, notably during the Europa Conference League semifinal against Marseille in May 2022.

Video evidence from that event depicted a Marseille supporter appearing unconscious while being assisted by others, alongside images of violent clashes between the rival groups just before the match commenced.

During that incident, approximately 400 Feyenoord hooligans were present in the vicinity of the city’s port, with further violent exchanges occurring the night prior to and after the match.

History repeated itself when Lille faced Bulgarian club Levski Sofia in the Europa League in 2010, where violent conflicts also erupted in the city center.