8 mei 2024 om 13:54 Update: 19 min. geleden
Troyes has suspended four players, the French second division club reported on Wednesday. The foursome threw fireworks back at their own supporters in the stadium during the abandoned home match against Valenciennes (1-1) on Friday.
Fans threw fireworks on the pitch on Friday to show their displeasure at the second relegation in a row. Last season, Troyes finished in the penultimate place of Ligue 1. Now the club is seven points off the safe sixteenth place in Ligue 2 with two matches to go.
In the final phase of the match against Valenciennes, the fans threw fireworks and smoke bombs onto the field twice. Some players on the home team were not happy about that. During the second interruption, they threw the fireworks back into the stands, after which the referee finally stopped the match.
“These players have been suspended,” the club wrote in a statement. “We were deeply disappointed to see four players throw some smoke bombs back in the direction of the crowd. Despite the fans’ bad behavior, it is clear that the players’ reaction was dangerous.”
Troyes will play the last two matches without supporters
Not only the foursome is punished, but also the supporters. Troyes is conducting an internal investigation. “We have studied the camera footage and identified nine people,” the club said.
“Their season tickets and tickets will be declared invalid and they will be banned from playing in the stadium. Their identity has been passed on to the police.”
It will be announced on May 17 when the remainder of the match will be played. Supporters are no longer welcome in the stadium for Troyes’ last two league matches.
