2023-04-30 19:21:39
Place du Capitole is once again black with people. Or rather purple. Several thousand supporters gather in the large central square of Toulouse to greet the players of “Téfécé”, winners of the French football cup by correcting Nantes, Saturday evening (5-1). The purple jerseys and flags, the colors of the club which played in white on Saturday evening at the Stade de France, are omnipresent. Karine, 51, and her son Dimitri, 22, wear the official scarf for this truly historic match. Toulouse had not lifted the cup since 1957. Two years ago, the team was still playing in Ligue 2. It was bought in 2020 by Redbird, an American investment fund from Olivier Sadran, a businessman Toulouse who had taken over the club, demoted to the amateur league after filing for bankruptcy at the turn of the century. The setbacks of the TFC, which has been playing the game for decades, seem forgotten today. He scores goals and won a new audience.
“I would have preferred to come in red and black, we are more rugby”, admits Karine. La Toulousaine and her son, a student in Paris, tried to follow the match on Saturday evening in front of the monumental facade of the Capitol. The city had planned a giant screen which also broadcast the semi-final of the European rugby cup lost by Stade Toulouse against the Irish of Leinster (17-41). Between 12,000 and 18,000 people were present on Saturday, despite intermittent rain. But Karine was never able to access the place, which had reached its maximum gauge. The drastic security measures were maintained on Sunday.
Bodega-style beer
Screening of entries and exits, searches and pat-downs by security agents: access to the Capitol has nothing to envy to Blagnac airport. Since the attack in Nice, there is no longer any question of reaching the Place du Capitole by car during major events. Concrete pads and barriers delimit a wide security perimeter around the square, now reserved for pedestrians… and customers of the underground car park. Rugby fans honking passing motorists in the square are scenes that are now a thing of the past.
Exception for a group of supporters, who arrive grouped in a cloud of smoke from the Garonne, if you are not “ultra”, you have to wait long minutes to hope to access the place of the festivities. Supporters, discouraged, prefer to turn back. On the spot, the public waits wisely for the appearance of the players on the balcony of the town hall. The bars have tidied up their terraces and serve beer standing up, bodega style. Shortly before 6 p.m., a brief downpour did not even cool the atmosphere. The loudspeakers broadcast the I sing. The Occitan anthem had already sounded the day before at the Stade de France. It is however under the deafening decibels of an Anglo-Saxon variety title that the yellow bus of the players makes its entrance on the spot, with a little half an hour late. And when the cup is finally brandished on the balcony of the town hall, it is Queen who rings out: «We are the champions»
“When we arrived, we were told that there was no passion in Toulouse”, exclaims Damien Comoli at the microphone. The new boss of the club installed by Redbird is visibly happy to have belied the reputation of a city that vibrates only for rugby. He also wanted to reassure the supporters in the afternoon. Some are already worried about seeing the TFC deprived of the European Cup next year on the green carpet. Redbird also owns AC Milan. A UEFA regulation would prohibit two clubs belonging to the same shareholder from playing in the same competition. “I am personally committed to ensuring that the club has its European license”assures Comoli.
#Toulouse #jubilant #return #players #brought #home #cup #Liberation