Troyes suspends four players for throwing flares at fans

French club Troyes has suspended four players and suspended nine fans for throwing flares at each other after the abrupt end of Saturday’s game against Valenciennes, leaving the team on the verge of a second straight relegation to the third division.

Troyes, owned by Abu Dhabi-based City Football Group, was interrupted in the 89th minute with the score tied at 1-1 after fans threw flares and smoke bombs onto the pitch at the Stade de l’Aube.

Moments later, as fans were still throwing flares, some Troyes players picked up flares from the ground and threw them back – angering one of the fans by shouting at the players over a loudspeaker.

❌ Below are pictures of the break between the game@estac_officiel et @VAFC ! #Ligue2KBT pic.twitter.com/hhpCcKhnVh

— Prime Video Sport France (@PVSportFR) May 3, 2024

“The throwing of pyrotechnic devices onto the pitch by ticket holders is viewed by the club as a dangerous and irresponsible act,” Troyes said in a statement on Wednesday. “These acts have no place in our sport.”

“We have examined the CCTV footage and identified nine people whose season tickets will now be canceled and who will be given a maximum ban from entering the stadium.”

“We were also disappointed when four players sent smoke bombs from the pitch into the stands. Despite the provocation, it is clear that their reaction was also dangerous. These players have now been temporarily suspended.”

“The club is now waiting for a decision from the league.”

Four teams will be eliminated from France’s Ligue 2 this year as the division shrinks from 20 to 18 teams. Troyes sits in 17th place, seven points adrift of safety until the league makes a decision on how the game against Valenciennes will conclude.

On Saturday, Troyes fans could be heard in the stadium ironically chanting “Merci City” in a reference to the ownership group that took over in September 2020.

Their record signing Sávio, signed from Brazilian club Atlético Mineiro in 2022, has never played for the club as he was immediately loaned out to PSV Eindhoven last season and to Girona in the Spanish LaLiga this season – another CFG’s own team.

Information from the Associated Press contributed to this report.