Supporters on the pitch, fire from smoke bombs and the intervention of the police… The match between Saint-Etienne and Auxerre for the Ligue 1-Ligue 2 play-offs ended in confusion on Sunday 29 May. After ten years of waiting, Auxerre snatched their return to Ligue 1 on penalties against the Greens (1-1, 5 penalties to 4), relegating them to Ligue 2.

Spectators invaded the lawn of the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium and threw smoke bombs horizontally towards the sidelines, the players of both teams taking refuge in the locker room. The police also entered the field and used tear gas to disperse the crowd, according to images broadcast by Prime Video.

? Surreal scene after #ASSEAJA! ? Just after the goal of the climb for AJ Auxerre, “supporters” f… https://t.co/twSa0hf1Ig

— beinsports_FR (@beIN SPORTS)

A journalist from the broadcaster also mentioned “panic movements” in the stands.

Saint-Etienne sanctioned several times

The Saint-Étienne club has been sanctioned several times this season by the Disciplinary Committee of the Professional Football League for the behavior of its supporters. The shoot-off against AJA was also played with a closed stand, for throwing smoke bombs during the ASSE-Monaco match at the end of April. A total camera even hit the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium for the last home game in Ligue 1, during the 37^e day, lost against Reims.

Saint-Étienne-Monaco, counting for the 34^e day of Ligue 1, had been interrupted twice, the second time for more than half an hour, while some ultras from Saint-Etienne were using smoke bombs and fireworks to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Green Angels.