Montpellier called 'delusional' after demanding €500,000 from supporters caught throwing fireworks
03/05/2024 15:40
Montpellier HSC will look to reclaim €500,000 in damages from two supporters who threw fireworks at the Clermont Foot goalkeeper Mory Diaw (30) during the game on the 8th of October 2023. The goalkeeper was struck by a firework and had to be stretched off the pitch causing the match to be abandoned and rescheduled for the 29th of November.
According to L'Équipe, the Montpellier public prosecutor has requested a six-month suspended prison sentence for one of the supporters, while recommending 200 hours of community service for the other. For both supporters, the prosecutor recommends a stadium ban for three years, with an obligation to report to the police whenever Montpellier matches are taking place.
Clermont Foot have claimed €4,000 for their goalkeeper while also looking for an additional €36,000 to cover the extra costs needed for the added travel requirements due to the fixture rescheduling.
Montpellier claim their damages
Montpellier have likewise claimed damages against the two supporters. The club were stripped of one point due to the incident, and have calculated that they are owed €515,000 from the two men. €18,000 for reorganising the replay, €13,000 for the partial closure of the stands, and €484,000 to compensate for a loss of TV revenue due to dropping down one place in the league because of the point deduction.
The lawyers representing the two supporters strongly contest Montpellier's decision referring to it as "disproportionate", and"delusional", with one of the lawyers expressing that it "would amount to condemning them to work their whole lives to repay the club."
