Anarchy broke out in the closing minutes of Valenciennes vs. Troyes in France over the weekend when play had to be suspended in the 89th minute due to the pitch becoming littered in lit flares.
What happened next was unlike anything we’ve seen before. Frustrated Troyes players began picking up the lit flares, throwing them back into the crowd, and potentially creating a deadly scenario in the stands.
This all stemmed from frustration bubbling over. Troyes had been a high-tier team who competed in France’s top Ligue 1 in 2022-23, but were relegated after finishing last. The expectation was that the team would fight once more to be promoted, but a disastrous Ligue 2 season in 2023-24 now sees Troyes being relegated in back-to-back years, now headed to the Championnat National.
The 1-1 tie in the 89th minute against the worst team in the league was too much for fans to bear. As wrong as it is to throw lit flares onto the field, the idea of having them thrown back could have started a disastrous fire — and it’s here officials stepped in.
Nine fans had their season tickets revoked and have been banned from attending matches. Meanwhile four players were suspended for throwing the projectiles back at fans, though it’s unclear for how long.