The French Football League (LFP) has definitively ruled on the abandoned match between FC Nantes and Toulouse FC (0-0) during the 34th and final Ligue 1 matchday. The encounter will not be replayed, and the Violets climb the standings as a result of this decision, though it falls short of their initial expectations.
Final verdict: no rematch, no forfeiture
The LFP’s announcement, released late on May 27, confirmed the match would stand as a goalless draw at the time of its abandonment in the 22nd minute. Contrary to speculation, the federation opted against awarding a 3-0 victory to Nantes, a decision that spared the club from a potentially harsher outcome.
Toulouse FC secures ninth-place finish
With this result, Toulouse FC climbs to ninth place in Ligue 1, surpassing Lorient. Despite sharing 45 points with Lorient, the Violets leapfrogged them thanks to a superior goal difference (3 vs. -1). This marks the club’s highest-ever finish since American investment group RedBird Capital took majority ownership. While the decision prevents Toulouse from closing the gap on Strasbourg (8th with 53 points), it ensures their upward trajectory remains intact.
Sanctions imposed on FC Nantes
The abandonment followed chaotic scenes at Stade de la Beaujoire, where masked supporters invaded the pitch, hurling pyrotechnics in protest against the club’s relegation. The LFP responded with sanctions: one closed-door match for Nantes, followed by a two-match closure of the Loire stand—the very section from which the protesters descended. Though the club avoids sporting penalties like point deductions, the measures underscore the league’s intolerance for such disruptions.
Nantes will commence their Ligue 2 campaign without home support, a harsh reality for a club already reeling from relegation. Yet, the absence of further sanctions offers a sliver of relief amid the fallout.
