Paris, France – November 16, 2025 – Olympique de Marseille, one of France's most storied football clubs, finds itself under renewed scrutiny from European football's governing body following a wave of disciplinary measures announced on Saturday. UEFA has fined the club €71,000 and mandated a partial closure of the Stade Vélodrome's south stand for its pivotal Champions League match against Newcastle United on November 25, all stemming from unruly fan behavior during a recent 1-0 home loss to Atalanta. This sanction, which could silence thousands of vocal supporters in a critical group-stage fixture, underscores Marseille's ongoing battle with supporter misconduct that has plagued its European aspirations for years.
The incidents unfolded on November 5 at the iconic Stade Vélodrome, a venue synonymous with passionate, if occasionally volatile, atmospheres. Marseille, hosting Atalanta in what was billed as a must-win encounter to bolster their faltering group standing, instead witnessed a night of frustration both on and off the pitch. Home fans, known for their fervent backing of the Phocaeans, crossed into dangerous territory by igniting flares that blanketed the stadium in acrid smoke, hurling projectiles onto the field, and directing laser pointers at players—actions that directly contravened UEFA's stringent safety and disciplinary protocols outlined in Article 16 of its regulations. These pyrotechnics not only disrupted play but also posed genuine risks to athletes, with reports indicating that Atalanta's goalkeeper Adem Dragojlović was momentarily blinded by a laser beam during a key defensive sequence. The match, refereed by Spain's Jesús Gil Manzano, ended in a narrow defeat for Marseille courtesy of a second-half strike from Atalanta's Charles De Ketelaere, leaving the hosts ruing missed opportunities and the shadow of impending repercussions.
UEFA's Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) acted swiftly, convening to review match delegate reports, video footage, and witness statements submitted within 24 hours of the final whistle. The verdict, published on UEFA's official disciplinary portal late on November 15, detailed a litany of violations: improper use of pyrotechnics (Article 16(2)e), throwing of objects (Article 16(2)b), and the use of laser devices (Article 16(2)f), compounded by blocked emergency passageways and abusive chants directed at officials. The €71,000 fine—equivalent to approximately $82,500—represents a cumulative penalty for multiple infractions, with €15,000 allocated specifically for the flares and an additional €10,000 for the lasers. More damning, however, is the ordered closure of 13 sectors in the south stand, a hotspot for Marseille's ultra groups like the Commando Ultras 84. This partial blackout will exclude an estimated 5,000 to 7,000 fans, drastically altering the acoustic intensity that has long been a hallmark of home games at the 67,000-capacity arena.
The timing could not be more inopportune for Roberto De Zerbi's side. Marseille currently languish in 21st position in the revamped 36-team Champions League league phase, with just four points from five matches—a tally comprising one win, one draw, and three defeats. The loss to Atalanta marked their third setback in the competition, placing them perilously close to the playoff threshold. The November 25 clash with Newcastle, who sit comfortably in the top eight with nine points, is do-or-die: a victory is essential to climb into contention for direct qualification to the round of 16. Yet, without the full-throated roar of the south stand, Marseille's psychological edge may erode. Club president Pablo Longoria acknowledged the blow in a post-announcement statement, emphasizing that "our supporters are our 12th man, and this sanction tests our unity at a fragile moment." Analysts suggest the reduced crowd could cost the team up to 10% in home performance metrics, based on historical data from similar UEFA-imposed closures.
Compounding the club's woes is a separate sanction against goalkeeping coach Alexandre Salvat, a 42-year-old veteran of Marseille's backroom staff since 2022. Salvat, who joined from Ligue 2 side Grenoble Foot 38, has been handed a two-match touchline ban for "insulting a match official" in the heated dying minutes of the Atalanta game. Eyewitness accounts and lip-reading experts engaged by UEFA confirmed that Salvat directed a profane tirade at fourth official João Pinheiro, including expletives questioning the Portuguese referee's integrity. This breach falls under Article 31(4) of UEFA's disciplinary code, which prohibits disrespectful conduct toward officials. Salvat's absence will span the Newcastle fixture and the subsequent away leg against Porto on December 10, leaving head coach De Zerbi without one of his most trusted lieutenants in goal-mouth strategy sessions. Salvat, whose charges include 23-year-old standout Gerónimo Rulli, issued a public apology via the club's social media, stating, "My passion got the better of me; I regret any distress caused and will support the team from afar."
This latest episode is far from an isolated incident for Marseille, whose fanbase has a storied yet checkered history with European authorities. The Vélodrome has been a cauldron of intensity since the club's 1993 Champions League triumph under Raymond Goethals, but that fervor has repeatedly spilled over into sanction-worthy chaos. In September 2022, during a group-stage home opener against Eintracht Frankfurt, clashes between rival ultras led to five UEFA charges against Marseille, including crowd disturbances and inadequate stewarding, resulting in a €50,000 fine and a suspended partial closure. That night, 17 police officers and two German fans were injured amid pre-match flare exchanges and pitch invasions, echoing the violent brawls that marred Euro 2016 qualifiers involving Russian supporters in the same city. Further back, in November 2017, former captain Patrice Evra was sacked by the club and banned by UEFA until June 2018 after delivering a infamous kung-fu kick to a jeering supporter during a Europa League tie against Vitoria Guimarães— an event that also netted Marseille a €25,000 fine for fan pyrotechnics and damage.
These precedents illustrate a pattern: Marseille's ultras, while renowned for choreographed tifo displays and unwavering loyalty, have faced escalating penalties from UEFA's Appeals Body. In March 2024, the club endured a full north stand closure and €81,500 in fines for similar flare and object-throwing offenses in a Europa League match against Villarreal. "Marseille's disciplinary dossier is thicker than most," noted UEFA spokesperson Darren Riddell in a briefing, highlighting how repeated violations trigger progressive sanctions under the body's three-strike policy. This season alone, the club has accrued over €150,000 in fines across domestic and European competitions, straining finances already stretched by a €120 million summer transfer spend on talents like Pierre-Emile Højbjerg and Leonardo Balerdi.
As Marseille navigates this turbulence, the focus shifts to internal reforms. Longoria has convened emergency talks with fan representatives from the Marseille Supporters' Collective, aiming to implement stricter entry protocols and awareness campaigns against pyrotechnics. De Zerbi, in his pre-Newcastle press conference, urged restraint: "We thrive on passion, but uncontrolled fire burns us all. Let's channel it into support that lifts us, not hinders." Psychologists specializing in sports crowd dynamics warn that such bans can foster resentment, potentially breeding underground fan movements that exacerbate issues. Yet, glimmers of positivity emerge: Marseille's Ligue 1 form remains robust, with a second-place standing yielding 22 points from 12 games, buoyed by Mason Greenwood's eight goals.
Looking ahead, the Newcastle match looms as a litmus test. The Magpies, under Eddie Howe, boast a high-pressing style that has netted 3 away wins in Europe this term, but Marseille's attacking flair—led by Greenwood and Amine Harit—could exploit gaps. Without Salvat's tactical input and the south stand's thunder, though, the odds tilt. UEFA's message is unequivocal: compliance or escalation. For a club etched in continental lore, from Didier Drogba's glory days to their 2018 Europa League final run, redemption demands discipline. As the November chill settles over the Vélodrome, Marseille must prove that passion and order can coexist—or risk fading from Europe's elite stage
