Nantes supporters invaded the field in the 20th minute of the game against Toulouse on Sunday, causing the definitive stoppage of the match.
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/2026/05/18/6a0ac4db0380a576142998.jpg "Ligue 1: Minister of Sports denounces unacceptable scenes of violence during Nantes")
Sports Minister Marina Ferrari denounced “unacceptable scenes of violence” on X, May 17, after the interruption of the Nantes-Toulouse match on the 34th and final day of the Ligue 1 football. Nantes fans invaded the field and threw smoke bombs. The match had to be completely stopped.
For the minister, these violent acts have “absolutely no place in sports or in our Republic”. “I condemn with the utmost firmness these actions and express my support to the players and the supporters who came to experience this moment peacefully,” Marina Ferrari continued.
“Everyone will have to take responsibility to identify the perpetrators of these acts of violence, which must be severely punished,” she concluded. Nantes, placed 17th and relegated to Ligue 2, and Toulouse, 10th with nothing at stake, were tied 0-0 in the 22nd minute when fans from the Tribune Loire invaded the Beaujoire pitch. After a few minutes, the Nantes supporters returned to their stands, secured by numerous riot police who couldn’t prevent some skirmishes.
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However, the minister did not comment on other incidents that marred the evening, including the pitch invasion by Nice fans at the end of Nice-Auxerre.
