Saint-tienne went winless and finished last in Ligue 1, but the match was delayed by an hour due to protests from angry home fans, saving a point against visiting Angers with a late fightback. Mid-table angers proved the point of the fans by securing a two-goal lead, with Saint-Etienne fighting Mikel Nade with a late, late equalizer. He made the final score 2-2 in five minutes of extra time, or 65 minutes after the final whistle. The match was called off due to an attack on the pitch during player practice. It was only the latest in a series of incidents involving fans in and around a Ligue 1 game earlier this season.
Home supporters hoisted banners, fired rockets and smoked bombs and fled into the field, damaging targets.
Banners attacked coach Claude Puel, the club leadership and the players.
“We’ve talked enough, you’re cracking us up” said one visible through the smoke.
Fans chanted “Puel resigns”, “Management resigns” and “We want a team worthy of our fans”.
The players left the field and were kicked out at the city-owned Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium as the nets were repaired by municipal staff.
On Thursday, fans hung a banner at the entrance to the training center that read: “Puel, you have 24 hours to resign”.
The latest incidents come two days after the league’s disciplinary committee suspended the stadium’s south stand for two matches following incidents during the derby against Lyon on 3 October.
A season of angry fans in France began on 22 August with a match between Nice and Marseille.
This was followed by several incidents in September.
The northern derby between Lens and Lille was overshadowed by a pitch attack that delayed the start of the second half.
The following weekend, supporters invaded the pitch in the game between Angers and Marseille, while a bus carrying Bordeaux fans to their match in Montpellier was pelted with stones, leaving 16 with minor injuries.
Nice was deducted one point. Lens was ordered to play home matches behind closed doors.
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