Ligue 1 game abandoned after fans storm pitch during Nantes vs Toulouse

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Sebastien Salom-Gomis/AFP via Getty Images Share articleNantes ultras threw flares and stormed the pitch during their Ligue 1 game against Toulouse on Sunday, forcing the match to be abandoned after 22 minutes. Nantes, second from bottom in Ligue 1, were relegated to Ligue 2 for just the third time in the club’s history following a 1-0 defeat by Lens on May 8. This brought to an end a 13-year stay in France’s top-flight. They hosted Toulouse at the Stade de la Beaujoire in the final league game of the season, but the game quickly descended into chaos. A video posted to social media showed fans in the Tribune Loire section began throwing what seemed to be smoke bombs onto the pitch before overpowering stadium stewards, climbing over barricades and entering the pitch. Referee Stephanie Frappart ordered both teams to evacuate the field and players and coaching staff from both teams swiftly headed for the changing rooms. Vahid Halilhodzic, a Bosnian coach who turned 74 on Friday, came out of retirement and returned to Nantes for his second spell in charge of the side in March in an attempt to help stave off relegation. The veteran coach, who was given a guard of honour before the game, was seen pleading with on-rushing fans before being held back by staff before being ushered away. Halilhodzic was visibly furious and emotional in the aftermath. With the players safely ensconced within the stadium, clashes continued between ultras and riot police, during which seats were thrown by those in the Tribune Loire. Frappart announced that the match had been abandoned in a press conference 40 minutes after the game’s suspension. “As you will have witnessed, as we did, a pitch invasion by supporters accompanied by pyrotechnics and the throwing of objects. This situation led to the officials and both teams returning to the locker rooms,” stated the League delegate. “The decision is to definitively abandon the match, following a decision by the prefect for security reasons,” she said, per L’Equipe. Minister for Sports Marina Ferrari released a statement on X, saying: “I wish to commend the swift intervention of the stadium staff and law enforcement. Everyone must take responsibility to ensure the identification of those responsible for these acts of violence, who must be sanctioned with the utmost severity.” The Athletic have contacted Ligue 1 for comment. In recent years, there have been a spate of similar incidents revolving around crowd trouble at Ligue 1 games, leading to French fans having to be on high alert. As reported by The Athletic, there have been attacks on players, violent pitch invasions, bloody battles between supporters, and high-profile abandonments. Nantes won just five of their 34 league games this season (the second worst in the division) and scored just 29 goals (the second fewest in the division). They were last relegated in 2009. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms