Montpellier vs Saint-Etienne abandoned after home fans throw smoke bombs, cause fire in Ligue 1 match


Sunday’s Ligue 1 match between Montpellier and Saint-Etienne was abandoned after supporters of the former threw smoke bombs on the pitch and in the stands, causing a fire to start.

The game, taking place at Montpellier’s Stade de la Masson, was initially suspended by referee Francois Letexier shortly before the hour mark with Saint-Etienne leading 2-0. Going into the fixture, Montpellier were bottom of Ligue 1 with Saint-Etienne one place and five points ahead of them.

A statement from Ligue 1 confirmed the game was abandoned “after a crisis meeting between the game delegates and the intervention of the police”.

“By decision of the public authority, it was decided not to resume the match,” Letexier then told a news conference.

The league statement added that a decision will be made in the coming days by the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP), the body which organises French professional football, as to the outcome of the match.

montpellier saint etienne scaled

Saint-Etienne striker Lucas Stassin had scored the game’s opening goal in the 11th minute. The away side then went down to 10 men shortly before half-time as defender Maxime Bernauer was shown a second yellow card. Stussin doubled his team’s lead in the 53rd minute, causing the reaction from the Montpellier supporters, according to a Saint-Etienne statement.

A win in the match would have taken Saint-Etienne above Le Harve, who occupy the relegation play-off spot in 16th, and level on points with 15th-placed Reims but behind them on goal difference.

(Photos: Sylvain Thomas/AFP via Getty Images)





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