Troyes match abandoned as flares thrown and City Group insulted in night that shocked Ligue 2
04/05/2024 11:25
Speaking to After Foot, an ESTAC Troyes supporter has explained how a year of frustrations and the very real threat of relegation fuelled the chaotic scenes that led to the game against Valenciennes FC being abandoned.
Troyes supporters late into the game as bottom-placed Valenciennes held their team to a 1-1 draw began to throw flares onto the pitch. The match was paused as security forces and the teams attempted to restore calm, however, was soon abandoned after a short restart when the flares once again came flying from the stands.
A Troyes supporter present at the game but not involved in the actions that led to the abandonment explained to the radio programme, "I have been angry with the City Group for a long time, for the departure of Bruno Irles, for the appointment of the Australian coach Patrick Kisnorbo (sacked in November) who dragged us down for more than a year.It was incomprehensible to me, as to all Troyes supporters."
Fin de match catastrophique pour le football…#Ligue2BKTpic.twitter.com/MqJNCNPkmm
— Prime Video Sport France (@PVSportFR) May 3, 2024
‘This shows how much Troyes is sinking’
He continued, "Tonight I think it was a general disappointment. Obviously, I do not condone what happened… I had seen this before but never in Troyes. This is the first time. This shows how much the club is sinking and seeing how the players responded, I said to myself that we had really hit rock bottom."
The City Football Group, whom many Troyes supporters hold responsible for their current predicament near the bottom of the table were the target of abuse and insults from fans furious that a multi-club model that has seen Girona FC and Manchester City compete at the top of their tables has left the French side behind.
"There were insults against the City Group. The players were also angry to see what they saw in the stands and frustrated with the team's results. I even saw a member of staff kick a ball which hit a woman in the face not far from me… I think the supporters broke down when they saw that Annecy and Dunkerque had won, which almost condemned us to relegation whatever happened," the supporter stated.
