Serious riots in France
Fire breaks out in the stands – game is canceled
Updated on March 17th, 2025 – 00:36 amReading time: 1 min.
Randals in football: The basement duel between Montpellier and Saint-Étienne must be canceled due to fan riots.
In the French Ligue 1, the game between HSC Montpellier and the AS Saint-Étienne was canceled due to fan riots. The followers of Montpellier threw pyrotechnics, seat shells and other objects on the field and the stands on Sunday, which also led to a fire in the ranks. Black smoke rose from the Montpellier block. When demolished in the 57th minute, the hosts were 0: 2 in the basement duel.
Referee François Letexier initially interrupted the game and sent both teams to the cabins. After a crisis meeting of the delegates and the intervention of the law enforcement officers, the game was finally broken off. “At the decision of the public authority and the security of the actors and the viewer, it was decided not to take the game back,” said Referee Letexier.
On the night of Sunday night, fireworks were already fired on the facade of the hotel in which the players of Saint-Étienne were housed. As the AFP news agency reports, citing police circles, around ten mortar grenades were fired at around 3 a.m. without damage.
It is not the first termination in France due to riot in recent years. In October 2023, the game between Montpellier and Clermont Foot was canceled after a Böller Clermont’s goalkeeper Mory Diaw hit. In November, the game between Nantes and Le Havre was interrupted for half an hour for similar reasons, but was continued.