Sevilla fans cleared to attend Champions League tie with Lens just hours before kick-off after a last-minute appeal overturns French government ban… as the club vow to lodge formal complaint to UEFA

• French authorities had announced a ban on away supporters last Friday
• Sevilla have succeeded in a last-ditch appeal to have their fans attend the match
• On a packed train, how DO you ask a celebrity to move from a seat you have reserved? It’s All Kicking Off 

Sevilla fans will be able to attend their Champions League tie against Lens on Tuesday night after the Spanish club succeeded in overturning a French government ban.

France’s Interior Ministry had announced last Friday that away fans would be banned from a number of league and cup games at the weekend.

The decision followed the death of a Nantes supporter, who was stabbed on December 2 ahead of a match against Nice.

Sevilla were informed on Monday that their supporters would not be able to attend their Champions League group stage match in Lens due to the ban.

The Spanish club lodged an urgent appeal with the French Council of State and National Supporters Association.

Sevilla supporters will be permitted to watch their Champions League match against Lens

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Sevilla’s president Jose Castro labelled the ban as ‘an absolute farce and a breach of the rights of Spanish and European citizens’.

The club have confirmed their appeal has been successful, with supporters able to attend the match.

Sevilla confirmed they will also lodge a formal complaint with UEFA over the late decision to ban supporters, which was overturned just hours before kick-off.

‘We would like to communicate that the Conseil d’État, French Council of State, along with the Association Nationale des Supporters, French National Supporters’ Association, has accepted our appeal against the banning of our fans from tonight’s Champions League match against Lens,’ a Sevilla statement read.

‘Therefore, those with tickets will be granted entry to the Stade Bollaert-Delelis this evening.

‘We are delighted that fans will be able to attend this evening’s match in Lens but regret the inconvenience caused for many supporters who, given the uncertainty and punishment threatened by the French Government, have decided against travelling and attending the match despite having tickets. 

‘The club will provide as much assistance as possible to those supporters who have been affected and will lodge a formal complaint to UEFA.’

A reported 300 Sevilla fans were due to make the trip to watch the LaLiga side face Lens.

Football Supporters Europe welcomed the overturning of the ban as a ‘landmark ruling’. 

Speaking at a news conference, Lens manager Franck Haise also spoke out against the ban.

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‘I regret the decision, especially given how late the information came,’ Haise said. ‘How are we going to manage the Olympic Games if we can’t welcome 300 Sevilla fans on French soil? There is a big problem.’

Neither Lens nor Sevilla can reach the Champions League knockout stage but they are battling to finish third and claim a playoff spot in the Europa League, a competition Sevilla won last season for a record-extending seventh time.

Lens have five points, three ahead of Sevilla, and a draw would therefore be enough for the French club.

A win for Sevilla would however see them finish third on the head-to-head tiebreaker after a 1-1 draw with Lens in Spain.

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