The Ligue 2 football match between Estac de Troyes (Aube) and Valenciennes FC (Nord) was interrupted a few minutes from the end on Friday May 3, 2024 after smoke bombs were fired onto the pitch. The club is very close to relegation to the National.
While the score was one goal and there were only a few minutes left to play, the match between Troyes and Valenciennes, counting for the 36th day of Ligue 2, was interrupted on Friday May 3, 2024.
The referee, Olivier Thual, made this decision after smoke bombs were thrown onto the pitch. He had already interrupted the meeting for a quarter of an hour the first time after a first series of smoke bombs.
Disappointed by the attitude of their supporters, some Troyes players threw some smoke bombs back into the stand from which they had started. https://twitter.com/estac_officiel/status/1786508585255547160Estac “condemns the actions of a minority of supporters”. “The context of fan disappointment does not excuse or mitigate this behavior, and we now await decisions from the football authorities.”
Smoke bombs were thrown onto the field from the stands, where players sent some back.
•
© MARION TARDY / MAXPPP
We contacted the club this Saturday, May 4, the day after the incidents, they do not wish to communicate further. The mayor of Les Républicains de Troyes, François Baroin, indicated this Saturday at the end of the morning that “last night’s excesses must be condemned with the greatest firmness.”
“Despite the challenging sporting season that Estac has gone through, there were families and children at the stadium last night, who simply came to watch a football match. We will take stock with the club, in conjunction with the services of the State, to guarantee the conditions of full and complete security so that such events do not happen again”, adds the chosen one.
As a supporter, I reiterate my great sadness at seeing the club go down to National. We will have to rebuild.
François Baroin, LR mayor of Troyes
Ligue 2 will go from 20 to 18 teams next season, there will be four direct descents to the National after the last day of the championship. In the event of a defeat on the green carpet, Estac would be condemned to relegation to the National two days from the end.
It would be a big blow for the club owned by City Football Group. City Group, which also owns the Manchester City club, for example, bought Estac in 2020, when the club was in the second division. Crowned French Ligue 2 champion in 2021, Estac returned to the elite for the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 seasons, before returning to Ligue 2 this season.
