Nantes, France – A chaotic pitch invasion unfolded at Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes during the Ligue 1 match between FC Nantes and Toulouse on May 17, 2026, after ultras flooded onto the field amid heavy flare smoke.

The long handheld video, filmed from the upper stands by X user DePaz🎙️, shows thick black and gray smoke from dozens of flares drifting across the pitch and completely covering parts of the field near the goal.

Scores of home supporters jump over advertising hoardings and sprint across the grass toward the center circle and the opposite end of the stadium while setting off additional pyrotechnics, including bright red flares.

Players wearing yellow Nantes kits and white Toulouse kits scatter and jog off the field for safety as stewards in orange vests and police officers rush in to confront the invading fans. Visible pushing and scuffles break out near the goalmouth while supporters packed inside the Tribune Loire continue chanting and recording the scenes on their phones.

The match, which was already 0-0, was abandoned shortly afterward.

FC Nantes had already been mathematically relegated to Ligue 2 before kick-off, and the invasion was carried out as a protest against the club’s ownership and management after a disastrous season.

French authorities later condemned the scenes, while riot police used tear gas to clear the pitch.

The extended fan footage quickly became one of the most widely shared videos from the incident.

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