The final day of France’s top flight football season turned chaotic as FC Nantes and OGC Nice faced pitch invasions by masked supporters during matches against Toulouse and Metz respectively.

At the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes, the game against Toulouse was halted in the 22nd minute when dozens of hooded fans — later identified as members of the Brigade Loire ultras group — stormed the pitch, launching smoke flares. The incident occurred despite an earlier tribute to departing coach Vahid Halilhodzic, whose emotional farewell was overshadowed by the spectators’ fury. The match was eventually abandoned for safety reasons by local authorities, with referee Stéphanie Frappart confirming the decision after players were evacuated to the locker rooms.

In Nice, the pitch invasion came after the final whistle of the 0-0 draw against Metz. Supporters, visibly angry over their team’s precarious Ligue 1 status, invaded the field carrying smoke devices. Local prefectural authorities condemned the actions, calling them “unacceptable violations of public order.”

government condemns supporter violence in top-flight football

France’s Minister of Sports issued a strong rebuke following the incidents. “Such scenes have no place in sport or in our Republic,” she stated, reaffirming the government’s zero-tolerance policy toward fan violence. The minister expressed full support for players and calm supporters, while stressing that authorities acted appropriately by halting both matches.

nice faces uncertain future after cup final disappointment

The OGC Nice president Jean-Pierre Rivère admitted the club is entering a critical phase. “We’ve had a season full of bitterness and disappointment,” he said, noting that despite the turmoil, the team must now focus on two crucial playoff matches against Saint-Étienne to secure their place in Ligue 1. Rivère also confirmed that the club’s priorities have shifted: “The Coupe de France final is no longer our main concern. Our only ambition now is survival.”

With the possibility of playing behind closed doors in the upcoming playoff leg, Nice’s fate hangs in the balance — both on and off the pitch.