French amateur rugby union club US Lectoure has been ordered to play its next home match behind closed doors and pay a 300 euro fine after disciplinary authorities revoked a three-year suspended penalty following a crowd disturbance.
The Gers club, which competes in the regional Régionale 1 league, announced on its social media channels on Sunday that supporters will be barred from Stade Ernest-Vila for their third matchday fixture against Stade Saint-Gaudinois Luchonnais XV on Sunday, October 4.
The sanction stems from a history of disciplinary issues over the past four years, which culminated in an altercation in the stands during a postseason playoff game at Passage d'Agen late last season.
US Lectoure co-president Rodolphe Missio explained that the club had been under a suspended sanction since April 24, 2025, which was scheduled to run until April 2028. Missio said the previous penalties were the result of accumulated incidents, including a fight on the pitch and insulting remarks made by a supporter.
The final incident recorded by match officials occurred during the round of 64 in the Promotion R1 French championship at Passage d'Agen, where Lectoure clinched a historic victory in a penalty shootout featuring a 120 kilogram prop forward. That match, which also saw Lectoure secure qualification against Confluent RC XV for the round of 16 on May 17, resulted in a referee report, and a formal summons from the disciplinary commission arrived at the club in mid-July.
Background and Four-Year History of Disciplinary Action
Lectoure is a traditional commune in the Gers department of southwestern France, an area with a long history of amateur rugby union competition. Régionale 1 is an amateur division organized under the regional structures of the French Rugby Federation.
Missio described the punishment as an unfair sanction while acknowledging that it was deserved, stating that a three-year suspended term was long and that alternative measures could have been taken. He expressed regret over the impact on the club's image, particularly among financial partners and the families of registered players.
The news arrived unexpectedly after Lectoure's season-opening derby match against Riscle at Stade Ernest-Vila had proceeded without any safety incidents, despite Lectoure suffering a defeat against a Riscle side that played with 14 men for nearly an hour.
Financial Loss and Impact on Local Supporters
The closed-doors ruling will cause serious financial damage to the club. Missio estimated that US Lectoure faces a loss of around 5,000 euros for the single matchday against Saint-Gaudens.
The financial shortfall includes lost revenue from the pre-match meal, ticketing, the stadium refreshment stand, and the matchday raffle. Beyond the financial cost, Missio raised concerns about loyal fans, noting that parents will be prevented from seeing their children play and elderly supporters will be unable to attend their regular Sunday match.
Lectoure sought to obtain a stay of execution to cancel the immediate enforcement of the sanction, but the effort was unsuccessful. As a result, the team will play without spectators this weekend as the players attempt to draw motivation from the difficult circumstances.
