A riot happened in the Stade de la Beaujoire on Sunday when enraged supporters of Nantes entered the pitch and abandoned their Ligue 1 match with Toulouse in just 22 minutes.
The match, leveled at 0-0 when dozens of hooded ultras broke through safety barriers and onto the field to protest against Nantes’ miserable season, had to be stopped as fans wearing black hurled flares and pyrotechnics onto the pitch, causing mayhem in the stadium.
Players from both teams ran away to their tunnel as riot police entered the pitch to maintain order. Local authority, together with match officials, decided that the game should be stopped as conditions were not safe enough for the match to be carried out, although fans were gradually sent back to the stands by riot police.
This shameful riot has drawn sharp criticism from all parts in France, with Marina Ferrari, the Sports Minister, making a remark about the riot being ‘unacceptable’ on Twitter.
Disciplinary action by the French Football authority is expected following the breach in security, while the club itself would be in deep trouble, being expected to face a fine, match cancellation, or even deducted penalty points.
The game, which has been abandoned, put more burden on Nantes’ miserable season as they are trying hard to prevent being relegated. It is very likely that the behavior of Nantes’ supporters has put the club into a far more desperate situation, before the end of the season is reached.
