Troyes ‘condemns’ supporters for chaotic scenes in match abandonment

ESTAC Troyes have released a club statement condemning the actions of their supporters that saw the game against Valenciennes FC abandoned . 

Late into the match, the game was delayed when flares were thrown onto the pitch. After a delay, the game was restarted, and once again flares were thrown down from the stands causing the referee to abandon the game. 

Frustrations have been building in the Ligue 2 side at the prospect of a double relegation after they crashed out of the top tier of French football the season before. Insults against their owners, the City Football Group, were heard on the night. 

The sentiment from the support is that the multi-club model has seen their sister clubs Girona FC and Manchester City perch near the top of their league tables but has seen Troyes damaged by a multitude of missteps and worrying interventions . 

The firing of popular manager Bruno Irles and the hiring of the Australian Patrick Kisnorbo, as well as the record transfer fee spent on Sávio (20), a player who will never play for the French side after being shipped off on loan to PSV and Girona, before an agreement was reached to sell him this summer to Manchester City. 

Troyes has hit back at the actions of their fans stating that they “ condemn the actions of a minority of supporters… The context of fan disappointment does not excuse or mitigate this behaviour, and we now await the decisions from the football authorities .” 

GFFN | Nick Hartland