The French Football League (LFP) officially closed the case on the abandoned Ligue 1 match between FC Nantes and Toulouse FC (0-0) on the final matchday. The encounter will not be replayed, and the decision favors Toulouse, who secure a crucial climb in the standings.

Rather than awarding a default 3-0 victory to FC Nantes, the LFP opted to validate the score at the moment of abandonment—0-0 at the 22-minute mark. This move preserves Toulouse’s ninth-place finish, their highest since RedBird Capital’s investment in the club.

The Violets now sit level on 45 points with FC Lorient but surpass them due to a superior goal difference (+3 compared to -1). Even a 3-0 victory would not have sufficed to overtake Strasbourg (8th with 53 points), making this outcome a strategic setback for Nantes rather than Toulouse.

Protesters disrupt Nantes’ finale

Chaos erupted during the final Ligue 1 matchday when Nantes supporters invaded the pitch at the Beaujoire stadium. Dozens of masked ultras, linked to the club’s ‘Brigade Loire’ ultras group, launched flares and stormed the field in protest against the club’s relegation. Stadium stewards struggled to contain the situation.

The LFP handed down sanctions targeting the source of the disruption: a one-match behind-closed-doors penalty for Nantes, coupled with a two-game closure of the Loire stand—the epicenter of the unrest. While the club avoids sporting penalties like point deductions, the sanctions mark a stark reminder of the consequences of fan misconduct.

The decision underscores the LFP’s balancing act between maintaining competition integrity and addressing matchday incidents. For Toulouse, the climb up the table offers a silver lining amid a season of progress under their new ownership.