France: Lyon fans split over arrival of Italian supporters amid coronavirus fears

M/S Major of Decines-Charpieu Laurence Fautra inside her office ahead of Lyon - Juventus football match, Decines-Charpieu, France
SOT, Laurence Fautra, Major of Decines-Charpieu (French): "(The decision to maintain the match) is irresponsible and inconsistent. Because, on one side, as mayors of France we receive a letter from the Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, requiring us to stay alert and demand our citizens to stay confined at home if they have recently come back from Italy, and wear a protective mask. And now we have another minister saying that we can allow the free circulation of Italian supporters in a confined place where 60,000 people are going to be together."
W/S Parc Olympique Lyonnais "Groupama Stadium"
W/S Groupama Stadium sign
M/S Stadium staffers
W/S Barriers outside stadium
SOT, Juventus supporters (Italian): "It is a worldwide problem and we hope that it will be solved as soon, so that we all can attend football matches without restrictions or problems. The calcio belongs to everyone, all the supporters, and it is not acceptable to have a game behind closed doors. As Juventus - Inter Milan on Sunday. It's heartbreaking."
M/S Staffers outside stadium
M/S Staffers checking supporters
SOT, Olympique Lyonnais supporter (French): "Is it worth to go into a psychosis? I think that if there was a real risk, even if the risk zero does not exist, if it really existed a danger, then they would put all these people here at risk. I do not really what to think."
M/S Juventus supporter wearing Ronaldo's jersey *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Olympique Lyonnais supporter (French): "It's a matter of money. Blocking 3,000 Italian supporters who have came here, paid their tickets and made their reservations a while ago it's complicated. I think it's useless because they can always go through Menton or elsewhere."
M/S Juventus supporters entering stadium through different gate *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Olympique Lyonnais supporter (French): "(I wear a mask) Yes, because the Italians have not done things properly like the French. Tonight they should have been blocked at the border. There are a bit more than 3000 Italian supporters here today. So we take no risks."
M/S Supporters outside stadium
W/S Parc Olympique Lyonnais "Groupama Stadium", Decines-Charpieu, France
SCRIPT
Nearly 3,000 Juventus supporters flocked to the French city of Decines-Charpieu, near Lyon, on Wednesday ahead of the UEFA Champions League match against Olympique Lyon.
Many local residents, including Major of Decines-Charpieu, Laurence Fautra, were disappointed at the national authorities' decision to keep the border with Italy open despite the outbreak of coronavirus, and let the Italian fans reach the Groupama Stadium.
Fautra described the decision as "'irresponsible," as she said that a letter from French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe required mayors to advise those citizens coming back from Italy to put themselves under quarantine. The lack of travel restrictions for Juventus supporters from Italy was "inconsistent," she added.
Lyon supporters were split, with some wearing a protective mask before entering the stadium while others downplayed the risks posed by the virus.
"Blocking 3,000 Italian supporters who have came here, paid their tickets and made their reservations a while ago it's complicated," said a man.
Another supporter claimed "Italians have not done things properly like the French. Tonight they should have been blocked at the border."
Olympique Lyon takes on Juventus at the Groupama Stadium at 21:00 (20:00 GMT) on Wednesday.