The Football Club de Nantes has been handed a harsh penalty following the tumultuous end to their final Ligue 1 match of the season against Toulouse. The disciplinary board of France’s top football league has ruled that the Canaries must play their first fixture of next season behind closed doors.
The decision comes after ultras stormed the pitch in protest during the 24th matchday encounter, which was abandoned before full-time. The incident was triggered by Nantes’ relegation to Ligue 2, sparking unrest among supporters who took out their frustration on the field.
The disciplinary committee confirmed the 0-0 scoreline at the time of abandonment, making the result permanent. While the punishment could have been even more severe, including potential point deductions for the club’s upcoming Ligue 2 campaign, the board ultimately chose to spare Nantes from that harsh measure.
Additional sanctions include the closure of the Loire stand—the source of the disturbances—for the next two matches. This triple penalty sends a clear message about the consequences of pitch invasions and supporter misconduct.
Club officials had braced themselves for the worst but expressed relief that the disciplinary body opted against point deductions. The ruling underscores the league’s zero-tolerance policy toward such behavior while offering Nantes a chance to regroup in the second division without further competitive penalties.