- The final Ligue 1 match of the season between Nantes and Toulouse was abruptly called off.
- The pitch was invaded by Nantes supporters, who also set off flares on the field.
Both clubs experienced a tumultuous conclusion to their season and the match itself. The encounter between Nantes and Toulouse, part of the 34th and final round of Ligue 1 fixtures, came to a definitive halt. This followed a dramatic pitch invasion by Nantes fans, who also deployed pyrotechnics onto the playing surface.
With Nantes already relegated to Ligue 2 from their 17th-place standing, and 10th-placed Toulouse having secured their position, the score remained 0-0 at the 22-minute mark. It was at this point that supporters from the Tribune Loire section stormed the pitch at the Stade de la Beaujoire, prompting referee Stéphanie Frappart to send the players back to the changing rooms without delay.
“The decision was made to definitively suspend the match by order of the Prefect, citing security concerns,”
the international referee stated during a brief press conference held approximately 40 minutes after the initial stoppage.
As the interruption unfolded, Nantes coach Vahid Halilhodzic remained pitchside, visibly confronting the approaching supporters, only to be restrained by security personnel. The 74-year-old manager appeared dejected moments later in the Beaujoire corridors, confiding to a Ligue 1 + commentator that this was his final “coaching” appearance and that it caused him “great pain.”
Meanwhile, after a brief period, the Nantes fans returned to their designated stands, which were subsequently secured by a substantial deployment of CRS officers. Despite their presence, minor skirmishes could not be entirely prevented. A crisis cell, comprising the Prefect, law enforcement representatives, club officials from both teams, and the match referees, immediately convened to determine the definitive outcome of the fixture.
Following a deliberation period exceeding 30 minutes, Stéphanie Frappart and the match delegate addressed the press, confirming the permanent cessation of play. Notably absent from the match were Waldemar Kita, the club’s owner-president, and his son Franck, the deputy general manager. This was despite them having shared a luncheon with the players just hours prior to their departure from Nantes.
Last season saw a similar incident during the 26th Ligue 1 matchday, where the fixture between Montpellier and Saint-Étienne was definitively halted due to Montpellier supporters throwing flares onto the pitch and into the stands. As a consequence, Montpellier received a forfeited match and a season-long closure of the Étang de Thau stand, home to their ultra fans.