This Sunday, there will be no matches played in Ligue 1 Uber Eats or Ligue 2 BKT as French football stops to reflect on the trauma and tragedy of the Furiani disaster, which took 19 lives and injured many more 32 years ago.
On the 5th May 1992, SC Bastia and Olympique de Marseille faced off in the semi-final of the Coupe de France on the island of Corsica. However, what was supposed to be a day of celebration turned quickly into tragedy.
Ten minutes before the start of the match, a temporary stand at the Stade Armand-Cesari collapsed, with supporters and members of the media trapped in the wreckage - killing 19 people, and leaving over 2,300 injured. The match was never played, or replayed in the aftermath of the tragedy.
No matches played on 5th May
Remaining as one of the worst sporting disasters in the history of sport in France, the case went to court in 1995. It was found that those involved in erecting a temporary stand to increase capacity by 50% for the visit of Marseille were sentenced for up to two years in jail.
Since 14th October 2021, French law has decreed that no match will be played on the 5th May, following a petition from the families of the victims of the disaster. This is why no professional football leagues in France will be active this Sunday.
On Friday, Sporting Club de Bastia wore a commemorative black shirt to honour the victims of the disaster in their Ligue 2 BKT match against Amiens at the Stade Armand-Cesari.
