Clermont accuse Saracens of treating fans as ‘vulgar toys’

Saracens 14 Clermont Auvergne 46

On the day the football world licked its lip at the draw for the last 16 of the Champions League, rugby union’s equivalent competition was trying to mop up a public relations disaster.

Sunday afternoon should have seen Saracens host French club Clermont Auvergne in a repeat of last season’s European Champions Cup final, a fixture that in rugby terms is like Manchester City taking on Paris Saint-Germain.

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But the snow intervened, causing the group game to be postponed, not because the north London pitch was unplayable - how could it be when it’s artificial? - but because of health and safety fears for spectators coming to Allianz Park.

EPRC, the tournament’s governing body, initially announced that the fixture would be replayed at 2pm on Monday behind closed doors because of “continuing adverse weather conditions expected in the vicinity of the stadium”.

That announcement understandably outraged the Clermont fans who were still getting over the disappointment of Sunday’s postponed fixture. The club, the reigning French champions, are one of the best supported sides in world rugby with their fans known as the ‘Yellow Army’.

Then yesterday morning it was announced that the game would be played at 5.30pm and spectators would be able to use their tickets from Sunday.

Nigel Wray, Saracens chairman, issued a statement of his own, saying: “We will do what we can to not be beaten by the adverse conditions put in front of us, both on and off the pitch - it’s the British Way, it’s the Saracens Way. Real supporters with real tickets will always be welcome. We look forward to seeing as many of you here as possible.”

The tone of that email, the smug reference to the ‘British Way’ clearly rankled Clermont, who were perhaps surprised at how a few centimetres of snow had paralysed much of Britain.

Unable to contain their irritation, they posted a statement on their website that was a refreshing departure from the usual bland missives emanating from professional sports club.

“[Clermont] was not invited to the negotiating table and has had to adapt to the incompetence of local authorities and Saracens in organising this major sporting event,” they said.

Accusing Saracens and the EPRC of treating their supporters like “vulgar toys”, Clermont said that “whatever happens, this will remain an episode of amateurism… in the end, for a little more than 10 centimetres of snow, the organisation of this meeting was ridiculous and absurd. Staff and players are deeply upset by the lack of interest in their fans throughout the weekend and will use that an extra source of motivation.”

They were true to their word, inflicting on their hosts a humiliating 46-14 defeat, Saracens’ heaviest European loss and a result that leaves the reigning Champions Cup holders in danger of an early exit from this season’s competition.

Aliveretti Raka scored a scintillating hat-trick of tries for Clermont, and the Fijian winger also created one for Flip van der Merwe in what will be a contender for try of the season.

“It’s been three unforgettable days,” said Clermont coach Franck Azema. “It was a great adventure and sometimes there are unforeseen things that create a bond and a dynamic.”