Flares and remote-trigger claims as Nancy v Grenoble twice halted | OneFootball

The fiery rivalry between ultras overshadowed Nancy’s Ligue 2 meeting with Grenoble at Stade Marcel Picot, which was halted twice after flares landed on the pitch before finishing 0-0.

Shortly after the hour, flares thrown from a stand forced referee Mikael Lesage to send the players inside. After roughly 40 minutes, they returned and the announcer warned that any further incident could end the game. According to Le Dauphiné Libéré, the Grenoble ultras’ section had been tampered with before kick-off.

Authorities kept a close watch on the fixture given years of hostility linked to stolen banners. Grenoble fans were allowed to travel, with buses escorted to the ground to avoid clashes. Even so, before kick-off there were exchanges of flares and glass bottles from both sides, prompting a firm police response.

The flares originated in the Grenoble ultras’ end. The report said the section had been infiltrated before the match by Nancy fans who hid devices and agricultural bombs under seats and triggered them remotely, with the red pyrotechnics cited as unlike GF38 colours. An investigation has been opened.

On the pitch, despite a man advantage for the final 20 minutes, Nancy could not breach Grenoble’s defence. The Lorrains sit 14th on 26 points, two places behind their visitors on 28.

Source: Le Progres