Troyes face double relegation after chaotic scenes see match abandoned
04/05/2024 00:59
The Ligue 2 match between ESTAC Troyes and Valenciennes FC was abandoned earlier this evening after chaotic scenes saw Troyes fans throw flares onto the pitch in protest at the direction of the club.
After dropping down from Ligue 1 last season, Troyes are on the brink of a double relegation with the team occupying the final spot in the bottom four. The situation looks bleak for the club and as they battled out a 1-1 draw with bottom-placed Valenciennes, frustration spilled over from the stands.
Supporters began to throw flares onto the pitch which saw the Troyes players attempt to clear the missiles, throwing and kicking them back towards the home stands. The referee paused the game causing a delay of fifteen minutes while the debris was cleared and an attempt to restore calm was set in motion.
Les images folles de l'interruption du match entre l'@estac_officiel et @VAFC ! #Ligue2KBTpic.twitter.com/hhpCcKhnVh
— Prime Video Sport France (@PVSportFR) May 3, 2024
The game restarted but a new barrage of flares rained down onto the pitch causing the referee to abandon the match and the police to become involved to the frustration of the Troyes players, some of whom went to confront the supporters, with Junior Olaitan (21) pictured throwing the flares back at the fans.
Troyes needed a victory with seven points separating them from USL Dunkerque, but now with only two games left of the season will be hoping that the LFP will show some leniency on them, although a sanction due to the match-abandonment could be a distinct possibility.
It looks increasingly likely that the club owned by the City Football Group (the multi-club model that also boasts Manchester City) will not escape the drop into the third division. A fact that will not cool the tensions in Troyes.
