Soccer match in France postponed after fans throw flares and start fire in stands
Montpellier supporters light flares during the match against Saint-Étienne at the Stade de la Mosson on March 16.
By Ben Church, CNN
(CNN) — A top-flight soccer match in France between Montpellier Hérault and Saint-Étienne was postponed on Sunday after fans let off flares which started a small fire in the stands.
Saint-Étienne had been 2-0 up against relegation-threatened Montpellier before the referee halted the match around the hour mark. Video footage shows black smoke billowing from behind one of the goals inside Montpellier’s Stade de la Mosson, as red flares were thrown onto the pitch by fans.
Montpellier supporters could then be seen running to the back of the stands as a small fire appears to temporarily break out. Montpellier later said that some people had been injured in the incident. CNN has asked the club about the nature of the injuries.
Referee François Letexier initially paused the game while security tried to calm the situation, but he eventually brought the players off the pitch before the game was postponed.
“By decision of the public authority, it was decided not to resume the match,” Letexier said at a press conference, according to the Ligue 1 website.
CNN has reached out to the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP), a body which runs French soccer, for comment about the incident. It is unclear whether the result will stand or whether the roughly 30 minutes still left in the match will be played on another date.
Montpellier currently sits rock bottom of the French top flight with fans growing frustrated by their team’s struggles this season.
In a statement sent to CNN Monday, Montpellier said it “strongly condemns the violence that took place on Sunday afternoon.”
It added: “The club is now awaiting disciplinary action.”
Saint-Étienne, which sits one place above Montpellier, was without fans on Sunday after French authorities banned them from traveling due to a high risk of violence, according to the Associated Press.
CNN has reached out to Saint-Étienne for comment about Sunday’s incident.
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