The Frog and the Ox: Lausanne-Sport vs Yverdon-Sport.

Words: Maxime Michelet

Images: Maxime Michelet

After the Leman Lake and Romand derby, it is time to tell you about the Vaudois derby: Lausanne-Sport vs Yverdon-Sport. A derby that promises sparks, for three years to the day, the rivalry has taken on a certain magnitude, both on the field and in the stands

A relatively recent rivalry

"Yverdon Sport is the kid who sees himself as big and who gently breaks your balls by always having opened his mouth to provoke and take your place. A little slap and we move on..."

These words, spoken by a Lausanne supporter, could, by themselves, sum up the rivalry between Lausanne-Sports and Yverdon-Sport. Indeed, few Lausanne residents take their cantonal rivals seriously, preferring to compete with the Genevans, Sédunois, or even Neuchâtelois.

However, for three years now, the Lausanne Bleu et Blanc (Blue and Whites) and the Yverdon Vert et Blanc (Green and Whites) have been fighting fiercely for supremacy in Vaud football, giving rise to epic encounters.

We will particularly remember the scathing 4-0 in favour of YS in October 2022; the capital victory of the Green and Whites in the fight for promotion to the 1st division in May 2023; or the first Lausanne victory in Yverdon since 1996 last october.

From a supporters' point of view, Yverdon-les-Bains is not known for being a stronghold of the ultras movement, especially since the Green and Whites do not really shine in the microcosm of Swiss football, even falling to the fourtth division in 2013!

Although the club could count on the support of the Verts-Play and the Section Lac (inspired by the "fanclub" for the former; ultras for the latter), we had to wait until winter 2022, and the advent of Kop 14, taking the postal code of the thermal city (1400,) to breathe an ultras trend into this city nestled between Lausanne and Neuchâtel.

©Maxime Michelet/ Terrace Edition. Lausanne-Sport vs Yverdon Sport.

Insults and stolen banner

Let’s go back to Tuesday, February 8, 2022. The Canton of Vaud is celebrating, as Yverdon-Sport, newly promoted to the second division, welcomes its cantonal neighbor, experiencing one of the worst seasons in its history in the first division, for a historic place in the semi-final of the Swiss Cup.

The "little thumb" logically wins, giving rise to immense jubilation in the stadium, as well as an invasion of the pitch, with some local supporters taking the opportunity to provoke the Lausanne visiting sector.

However, the away fans are jubilant, since they are not leaving with their hands free. Indeed, following provocations and insulting chants emanating from the Yverdon Kop in the first half, a few blue and white ultras decide to take advantage of the conditions in the Municipal stadium to steal the Section Lac banner.

A banner that will be returned to their owners, in relatively murky circumstances, but it's enough to open Pandora's box, since the two camps continue to insult each other, with banners, insults, provocations, and even improbable visits, since a green and white supporter showed up in April 2023 wearing a jacket from the…Tribune Nord Genève!

Was it a provocation in bad taste, or are there close links between the Lausannes rivals ? Remember this question, it will be rather useful a little later.

©Maxime Michelet/ Terrace Edition. Kop 14 Yverdon Sport at Lausanne-Sport.

The frog that wants to be as big as the ox.

It is the morning of this Saturday, February 8, 2025. The cold is still biting, despite a small break of the sun at the end of the day, and the LS has announced a large-scale action, for this "Match of the Vaudois", with a rate of 20 Francs for all the stands, and this, by indicating its postal code.

The Yverdonnois travelled by bus and I placed myself at a strategic location, to observe their arrival. It was a surprise and disappointment to see only one bus had been chartered. Knowing that this is their biggest rivalry, and that only about thirty minutes separates the Chief Town from the second city of the Canton.

After all, I am a supporter of quality over quantity. If it turns out, there are only "real" ultras on this bus!

Kop 14 entered the visitors' sector shortly before the players entered, to the boos of the Kop Sud Lausanne, with some members climbing the fence. Both sides treated the Tuilière to a splendid display of strobes and smoke bombs, and the visitors had the first chances, without however opening the scoring.

As the fog struggled to clear, the KSL took out a banner reading "Sucking Geneva won't make you "Plus Malins"!"

What would Geneva be doing in a Vaudois derby?!

A few weeks earlier, YS and Servette FC faced off, giving rise to an unusual scene on the sidelines of the match, as the Genevans and Yverdonnois exchanged anti-Lausanne chants, congratulating each other afterwards. And the mention "Plus Malins" is, of course, an allusion to the Genevans ultras group "Les Plus Malins".

An affront that went down extremely badly with those mainly concerned, who were nevertheless rewarded with three goals scored in 10 minutes, celebrated by huge pyroshows, and dampening the hopes of a visiting sector, already very discreet, except to inveigh against its cantonal rival.

The intensity of the first half drops, as the derby is one-sided, on the pitch, as in the stands. However, Kop 14 tries to come out of its lethargy by cracking a few torches, but it is the Blue and White who quietly impose themselves

As I write these lines, a fable comes to mind to summarize this Vaudois derby: that of "The Frog who wants to be as big as the ox", taken from La Fontaine's Fables.

©Maxime Michelet/ Terrace Edition. Loz Boys of Lausanne-Sport.

©Maxime Michelet/ Terrace Edition. Los Boys banner.

©Maxime Michelet/ Terrace Edition. Kop 14 Yverdon Sport smoke at Lausanne-Sport.

©Maxime Michelet/ Terrace Edition. No pyro no party.

You can find Maxime on Instagram: @max_mich.loz

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