The Ligue 1 match between and was deserted after followers invaded the pitch and threw flares after simply 22 minutes of play.
The surprising scenes involving ultras at Stade de la Beaujoire had been a part of an obvious protest at Nantes’s relegation from the French high flight – with the cancellation halting what was meant to be a celebratory final outing for Vahid Halilhodzic’s last sport on the membership. Police needed to take to the pitch and the supervisor Halilhodzic, 73, who seemed to be the goal of the followers’ anger, was visibly shaken by occasions.
Anti-riot law enforcement officials safe the pitch after Nantes’ supporters threw smoke flares and invaded it – Sebastien Salom-Gomis/AFP by way of Getty Photographs
In a press release on their web site, Nantes stated: “The Yellow and Greens wished to finish the season tonight with a victory on the Beaujoire, for coach Vahid’s final match and for pleasure, in opposition to .
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“Nonetheless, following the usage of pyrotechnics within the stands and a pitch invasion within the twenty second minute (0-0), the authorities and the refereeing workforce determined to desert the match.”
Marina Ferrari, France’s minister of sport, additionally posted in regards to the unrest on social media channel X.
She wrote: “I condemn these actions with the utmost firmness and supply my help to the gamers in addition to to the followers who got here to expertise this second peacefully.
“I want to commend the swift intervention of the stadium workers and regulation enforcement. Everybody should take duty to make sure the identification of these accountable for these acts of violence, who have to be sanctioned with the utmost severity.”
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Referee Stéphanie Frappart known as off the match after initially suspending play, citing “safety causes.”