A Ligue 1 fixture between FC Nantes and Toulouse FC was abandoned after just 22 minutes on Saturday, as home ultras stormed the pitch and threw flares at the Stade de la Beaujoire. The dramatic scenes unfolded with the score still goalless, marking a chaotic end to a season that saw Nantes relegated from France’s top flight.
Incident at the Stade de la Beaujoire
The match, which was effectively a dead rubber for Nantes as their relegation had already been confirmed, descended into disarray when sections of the home support invaded the playing surface. Flares were reportedly thrown, prompting referee Stephanie Frappart to suspend the game. After a nearly 40-minute delay, Frappart made the decision to call off the match permanently.
“The decision to permanently stop the match has been made for security reasons,” Frappart stated, as reported by SportBible. The Nantes club also issued a statement confirming the abandonment, citing “the use of pyrotechnics in the stands and a pitch invasion in the 22nd minute (0-0).”
French Minister of Sports, Marina Ferrari, condemned the actions, expressing her dismay on social media. “I condemn these actions with the utmost firmness and offer my support to the players as well as to the fans who came to experience this moment peacefully,” Ferrari said.
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A season of struggle and disappointment
The unrest reflects deep-seated anger among Nantes supporters over a dismal season. The club’s relegation to Ligue 2 was sealed earlier in the month following a 1-0 defeat to Lens. This marks the first time Nantes has dropped out of Ligue 1 since their return in 2013. Their struggles are evident in their league performance:
- Finished 17th in the table, just one place above Metz.
- Secured only five wins from 33 league matches this season.
The club’s recent history presents a stark contrast to their current predicament, having won the Coupe de France just four years ago and finishing as runners-up the following season.
The abandoned match also marked the final game in charge for manager Vahid Halilhodzic. The 74-year-old had returned for a second spell in March, stepping out of retirement in an attempt to stave off relegation. Halilhodzic has a long history with Nantes, having played for the club for five years and previously managed them between 2018 and 2019.
The events at the Stade de la Beaujoire encapsulate a season of profound disappointment and frustration for everyone connected with FC Nantes.
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Sources: www.sportbible.com
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