Superstition in Perpignan: Usap has its new pitch baptized by the Bishop of the Pyrénées-Orientales, Monsignor Scherrer

Ce vendredi, le président de l’Usap François Rivière (micro en main), aux côtés du maire de Perpignan Louis Aliot (RN), a inauguré officiellement la nouvelle pelouse du stade ; MAXPPP – MICHEL CLEMENTZ

Les Catalans ont mis toutes les chances de leur côté pour affronter Clermont ce samedi après-midi.

USA Perpignan celebrated its big return to Aimé-Giral this Saturday, four months after its last meeting. And for good reason: it inaugurated its new hybrid pitch, under construction since last June, and which will have cost two million euros, according to France Bleu Roussillon. The reason why the blood and gold club had been forced to relocate its first home match against Montpellier to Béziers (defeated 7-26).

But this afternoon against Clermont, in a “Cathedral” swept by the wind and flooded with sunshine, the Catalans, no doubt overcome by a touch of superstition, decided to have their lawn baptized at 13:00 by the Bishop of the Pyrénées-Orientales, Monsignor Scherrer. A unique initiative that brought luck to Peprignan at half-time (18-3).

The pitch had not been changed since 1939

“But since we are in a republican place, all religious ceremonies were invited“, testified the president of Usap, François Rivière, the day before on our radio colleagues. For your information, the old Aimé-Giral pitch, in a terrible state in recent seasons, had not been changed since 1939.

It was officially inaugurated this Friday by the president of Usap François Rivière, alongside the mayor of Perpignan Louis Aliot (RN).