Football game moved in France after the fans had thrown torches and start fire in stands

From Ben Church, CNN

(CNN) – A first-class football game in France between Montpellier Héault and Saint-Étienne was postponed on Sunday after the fans had drained torches, which started a small fire in the stands.

Saint-Étienne had been 2-0 against Montpellier against relegation before the referee hired the match for the hour. Video material shows that black smoke rises behind one of the gates in Montpelliers Stade de la Mosson on one of the goals when red torches were thrown onto the field by the fans.

Montpellier supporters could then be seen how a small fire temporarily ran to the back of the stands.

Referee François Letexier initially stopped the game, while security tried to calm the situation, but he finally brought the players off the field before the game was shifted.

“The decision of the authority decided not to take the game back in,” said Letexier at a press conference, according to the Ligue 1 website.

CNN has contacted the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP), a body that operates French football to get a comment on the incident. It is unclear whether the result is or whether the approximately 30 minutes that are still left in the game are played on another date.

Montpellier is currently on the Bottom of the French top flight, with the fans being frustrated by their team's fights this season.

CNN made Montpellier about the incident on Sunday in the club's stadium. CNN also contacted Saint-Étienne to get a comment.

Saint-Étienne, who is located in a place over Montpellier, was without fans on Sunday, after the French authorities had banned them due to a high risk of violence, according to Associated Press.

The-Cnn-Wire
™ & © 2025 Cable News Network, Inc., A Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.