Football game suspended with players taken off as fans launch flares onto pitch
A French football match had to be suspended on Sunday with the players taken off as fans launched flares onto the pitch.
The Ligue 1 match between Montpellier and Nantes had to be halted after just 15 minutes as the home supporters protested against their side's 6-1 loss at Nice on Wednesday. Banners were displayed by the Montpellier fans, before a pyrotechnic display which ended with flares being thrown onto the pitch.
A large number of Montpellier fans had also boycotted the match at home to Nantes as part of their angry response to the recent thrashing at Nice.
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Referee Thomas Leonard paused the action for 15 minutes after taking the players off the pitch, with ground staff seen attempting to clear the flares from the playing surface.
The home fans who had attended the match could be seen continuing to throw objects from the stands as staff worked to restore order at that end of the Stade de la Mosson.
Montpellier's mauling in midweek had left the 2011/12 French champions just two points clear of the relegation zone and at risk of dropping out of the top flight for the first time since 2009.
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As well as the pyrotechnic display, two sets of banners were erected in the stands with a clear expletive-laden message to the club from the supporters.
One read: “A performance worthy of sons of b******, go f*** you all!” Meanwhile, the second translated to: “You are not worth s***! F***** team!”
Things went from bad to worse for Montpellier once play resumed, with former Sunderland winger Wahbi Khazri shown a straight red card before half-time.
Andrei Girotto then gave Nantes the lead in the 13th minute of first half stoppage time, before two goals in three minutes from Mostafa Mohamed and Ludovic Blas sealed a 3-0 victory for the visitors.
The result continues a woeful run of form for Montpellier, who have now won just one of their last 11 league matches, dating back to September.
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