A Ligue 1 match between Nantes and Toulouse was abandoned after just 22 minutes on Sunday after angry ultras stormed the pitch in protest of their club's relegation. The chaotic scenes unfolded at the Stade de la Beaujoire as home supporters threw flares and broke through barriers, prompting both sets of players to flee down the tunnel while riot police were deployed.
Match Suspended Amid Chaos
Referee Stephanie Frappart initially suspended the match with the score at 0-0. Nantes manager Vahid Halilhodzic, in his final game before retiring, stood his ground against the ultras and urged them to leave the pitch. Police eventually forced the fans back into the stands, but Frappart decided to call off the match nearly 40 minutes after the initial suspension, citing security reasons.
Nantes had already been relegated before the final weekend of the season, while Toulouse sat in 10th place. It remains unclear whether the match will be replayed.
Official Reactions
Nantes released a statement saying they wanted to end the season with a victory for coach Vahid's last match, but the use of pyrotechnics and the pitch invasion led to the abandonment. France's Minister of Sports, Marina Ferrari, condemned the actions as 'unacceptable' and called for the identification and severe sanctioning of those responsible.
Halilhodzic, 74, broke down in tears after the chaotic scenes, having received an emotional farewell before kick-off. The Bosnian retires after 33 years in coaching, including two spells with Nantes, where he also played for five years, scoring 93 goals in 163 appearances before moving to Paris Saint-Germain.
