Marseille’s ultras set off wild scenes outside the Stade Velodrome – despite being banned from the match itself – ahead of the crucial game against Tottenham as flares and fireworks are set off as tension mounts in southern France
Wild scenes beyond the ground follow fireworks set off in the city on Monday
Comes ahead of crucial Champions League meeting with online qualification
Tottenham travel to Marseille knowing a loss would be fatal to European hopes
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Ultras from Olympique Marseille arrived at the Stade Velodrome to create a hostile atmosphere ahead of Tottenham’s Champions League visit.
Banned from entering the ground after causing trouble earlier in the competition, the ultras showed up anyway and set off fireworks, flares and other fireworks as tension mounted before kick-off.
Fireworks were set off on Tuesday morning as the Tottenham players slept in their hotel before the game in the south of France.
As tension mounted to start with a chance for both sides to qualify for the last 16, Olympique de Marseille fans tried to transform the area around the ground into as hostile a venue as possible, as fireworks explode alongside fireworks. was fired.
Marseille fans created a wild and terrifying atmosphere off the ground on Tuesday
Footage widely circulated on social media and the television networks around the world showed OM supporters setting off several fireworks as kick-off drew nearer.
Earlier in the competition, OM supporters caused trouble at Tottenham with police and stewards having to rush to the far end in September to quell the trouble.
As a result, Marseille was fined £29,000 for the trouble. Tottenham were handed a £5,000 penalty for throwing objects at the end of the supporters.
The scenes follow the fireworks being set off outside the Tottenham hotel in the early hours
With Antonio Conte absent from the bench and indeed in the dressing room for the game after being sent off last week after being furious with the referee for rebuffing Tottenham’s last attempt against Frankfurt, assistant Cristian Stellini was called out by BT Sport asked about the fireworks in the early morning.
‘Yes I slept well. We enjoyed the fireworks, but they were a bit short,” he said.
It is believed that the fireworks were set off at 1.30 am and again at 4.30 am.
Italian publication Corriere dello Railt reported that Tottenham held an emergency meeting at 10.30am to ensure the safety of the players for tonight’s game.
Marseille supporters tried to create a hostile atmosphere for the do or die game in France
Conte’s side is expected to be welcomed by a typically hostile atmosphere in Marseille tonight, with all to play for in Tottenham’s group.
The Spurs need just a point against Marseille at the Stade Velodrome on Tuesday to guarantee a place in the top two of Champions League Group D and qualify for the knockout rounds next year.
Marseille must win to qualify, a result that would knock Conte’s team out of the competition and dump them into the Europa League.
Tottenham players were awakened twice by fireworks set off by Marseille fans in the early morning hours, disrupting them ahead of their crucial Champions League match