Smoke bombs triggered remotely, stoned bus, injured steward… the summary of the incidents during Nancy-Grenoble

Implausible scene Friday February 21 at the Marcel-Picot stadium in Nancy. The Ligue 2 match between AS Nancy Lorraine and Grenoble was interrupted for more than forty minutes because of smoke and projectile jets emanating from the visitor’s park.

At the start of each half, an intense cloud of red smoke spread throughout the enclosure. The first quickly dissipated, but not the second, forcing the match referee, Mikaël Lesage, to send the players back to the locker room at the hour mark. The game was then able to resume after a safety commission ensured that the conditions were met for the resumption.

On the field, the score remained goalless until the end, but the incidents outside will leave their mark. According to information from our colleagues at Ici Lorraine, around fifteen smoke pots were installed by Nancy supporters of the Saturday ultra group under the seats of Grenoble supporters, then activated remotely during the match.

A steward injured after a firecracker throw

The first wave of smoke was activated by Nancy supporters, the second was the work of Grenoble supporters who lit the pots which had not been lit in the first half.

Still according to local radio, before the match, clashes involving the same two groups of supporters took place. Insults were then exchanged, doors were forced and a steward was injured in the calf then taken care of by the Samu after a firecracker was thrown. To top it all off, when leaving the stadium, the Grenoble players’ bus was stoned.

Already under a suspended match suspension, AS Nancy Lorraine is at great risk. Especially since the club is a repeat offender and played four home matches behind closed doors at the start of the year due to incidents linked to smoke throws last season in the National.

The Professional Football League will therefore be seized of this matter and will have to decide on the sanctions to be taken.