Montpellier Vs Saint-Étienne Abandoned After Crowd Trouble.

The Ligue 1 clash between relegation rivals Montpellier and Saint-Étienne was abandoned after home fans threw flares onto the pitch, leading to a fire in the stands at the Stade de la Mosson.

Match Halted Amid Fan Unrest  

Montpellier were trailing 2-0 when the match was halted in the 62nd minute, moments after Saint-Étienne striker Lucas Stassin scored his second goal of the game. Referee François Letexier initially paused play for three minutes when flares were thrown onto the pitch, but the situation escalated as smoke and flames became visible in the stands, prompting officials to take the players off the field.

Following a 20-minute delay, the decision was made to abandon the match.

Recurring Issues With Montpellier Fans  

This is not the first time Montpellier fans have been involved in crowd trouble. In October 2023, their match against Clermont was abandoned after a firework thrown from the stands exploded near Clermont goalkeeper Mory Diaw, leaving him stunned.

The abandonment leaves Montpellier at the bottom of the Ligue 1 table, eight points from safety, while Saint-Étienne sit one place above them, five points better off.