Chaotic scenes marred two Ligue 1 fixtures on the final matchday, with pitch invasions forcing cancellations in Nantes and Nice.

The final round of the Ligue 1 season was overshadowed by unprecedented fan disturbances, as two out of ten matches were abruptly halted. The incidents unfolded in Nantes and Nice during evening fixtures on Sunday, casting a shadow over the season’s conclusion.

In Nice, ultras breached pitch-side barriers following the whistle against Metz, prompting intervention from riot police to restore order. However, the situation escalated dramatically in Nantes, where the home side, already relegated to Ligue 2, faced Toulouse in a match that would never reach its conclusion.

At the Stade de la Beaujoire, events took a violent turn just 22 minutes into the game. Dozens of Nantes supporters—many of them masked—stormed the pitch, forcing players to retreat to the locker rooms. The match was abandoned less than an hour later, depriving the club of a proper send-off for outgoing coach Vahid Halilhodžić, who was concluding his tenure.

“This is disgraceful”

Halilhodžić, visibly shaken, addressed the media after the abandonment, his voice heavy with disappointment. “This is disgraceful. I wanted to confront the fans directly and tell them to stop. I understand their frustration, but this is unacceptable. I’ve given everything as a coach and as a man. Unfortunately, the reality is heartbreaking,” he confessed.

While the Ligue de Football Professionnel has yet to issue a formal statement, an internal investigation has been launched. The FC Nantes faces severe repercussions, including possible stadium bans and point deductions for next season’s Ligue 2 campaign—a fate previously imposed on Saint-Étienne four years prior after similar incidents.