Top 14 match descends into chaos as fans accused of throwing beer at players
Perpignan fans during their Top 14 match v Toulouse in 2024/25
Perpignan fans have thrown beer on players during a mid-game scuffle in their Top 14 clash with Racing 92, according to reports in France.
Franck Azema’s side fell to a 28-15 defeat to the Parisians in round three of the Top 14, their third-straight loss in the early weeks of the new campaign. It has left them 13th in the table, sitting just above newly-promoted Montauban on points difference.
‘We don’t need that’
According to reports from Midi Olympique, an on-field scuffle towards the end of the game resulted in a fan allegedly attempting to enter the pitch, while other supporters in the crowd allegedly threw beer towards those on the field.
“I don’t know what happened down there,” USAP boss Azema said of the incident after the match. “There was a scuffle. I don’t see people from the crowd fighting with the players, I don’t think there was any throwing (beer) at the refereeing staff, or the opponent, I hope not. We don’t need that.
“Is there frustration among people? Yes, does that allow them to do that? No. Everyone has frustration; I have it every day. I deal with it, it’s part of the pressure that exists in Perpignan, otherwise you shouldn’t train here and you shouldn’t play either. Now, it must always be with respect.”
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Players Noé Della Schiava and Fabien Sanconnie were also sin-binned following the on-pitch incident.
These reports from Midi Olympique also follow previous fan incidents at Perpignan in recent years.
In the wake of their promotion/relegation play-off win against Pro D2 side Grenoble last season, supporters from either side were seen clashing, with riot police having to intervene. As a result, Perpignan were ordered to pay a €25,000 fine.
On top of this, a fan incident in Perpignan’s clash against Clermont Auvergne in 2024 also saw the club handed a €15,000 fine.