Dijon-Sochaux: Breathe — Terrace Edition

Words: Maxime Michelet

Images: Maxine Michelet

At a time when Europe is celebrating an "ACAB Day", a grudge match that promised to be mustard hot was played in Dijon, between Dijon FCO and FC Sochaux-Montbéliard. If the match on the field turned out to be disappointing, the stands were a different matter.

Far from the German Dritte Liga, or the Italian Serie C, the Nationale 1, in other words the French third division, also has its own particularity.

Indeed, it hosts some big names in French football, such as Le Mans FC, US Orléans, FC Rouen, Nimes Olympique and FC Sochaux-Montbéliard.

Between indecent schedules, weekday matches, prefectural shutdowns, and more than rustic stadiums, the stands try to keep their former lustre, when they could compete with the big names in French football, such as the Parisians, Marseillais, and other Stéphanois or Lensois.

It is in this context that we find FC Sochaux-Montbéliard, created in the heart of the Peugeot car dealership factory. The club symbolizes an entire region often forgotten, even decried, namely Franche-Comté, as well as a certain working-class soul, and very popular.

©Maxime Michelet/ Terrace Edition. Lingon’s Boys Dijon Naruto tifo.

On the other hand, Dijon Football Côte D’Or has the particularity of being a relatively young club, since it was only created in… 1998, following various mergers.

Having evolved for years in the shadow of its invasive neighbour AJ Auxerre, it returned to Ligue 1 for the first time in 2011, before going down very quickly, and then returning for a second time in 2016.

The two clubs are playing for promotion to Ligue 2, and a dispute reigns between the ultras groups of the camps, giving rise to various clashes and other provocations.

It is also around 6pm that around fifty Dijon lads, all dressed in black, arrive in corteo near the Gaston-Gérard stadium.

The tension is palpable, and while the Lingon’s Boys 12 (LB12) prepare the evening tifo, the Sochaux Tribune Nord (TNS, or Teheness), arrives in the enclosure, bringing its share of insults.

The mercury is negative, but the displays raised in the two stands will have the thermometer warming.

©Maxime Michelet/ Terrace Edition. Lingon’s Boys Dijon.

A huge veil representing Itachi from Naruto surrounded by owls (emblem of the City), covers the Tribune Nord of Dijon, while a small round tifo covers the Tribune Nord of Sochaux.

In the away section, the Sochaux fans bring a banner reading “Le foot c’est le weekend” for a campaign against TV and midweek matched that fans all across the country are fighting.

A huge cracking of torches and smoke bombs is lit on each side, and the Sochaux fans throw some in the direction of the Dijon stand. Hostilities are launched.

The match is rather balanced, and the two teams struggle to capitalize on various goalscoring opportunities.

On the stands side, the two camps deliver a real recital, based on pogos, jumping, yelling, and the direct proximity between the Tribune Nord and the away-sector allows some to engage in a psychological battle, between looks, middle fingers, and throat-slitting signs.

©Maxime Michelet/ Terrace Edition. Sochaux Tribune Nord at Dijon.

We enter the last 10 minutes, when the TNS unfurls a banner "When the phone makes noise, the owl sleeps". According to some information, Sochaux called Dijon in the middle of the night for a contact, without response.

In return, the Lingon’s sing a song of friendship with their friends from Lausanne. A moment that is both friendly and provocative, particularly because of the links between the Sochaux and Geneva, first with the ultras of Servette FC, then of Geneve Servette HC.

Sochaux climb a fence, followed immediately by Dijon. Insults fly, as do many objects such as firecrackers, beers, smoke bombs, and the Lingon's, as a precaution, remove their banners.

The referee whistles the end of the match, and the two teams can’t be separated with a score of nil-nil. The speaker wishes all the fans a happy New Year, and Maria Carey can sing her "All I want for Christmas is you".

A song, however joyful and evoking the magic of Christmas, contrasts with the tense atmosphere reigning between the two groups.

“All I want for Christmas is to smash your face in” would be a better description.