French Ligue 1 Match Abandoned After Clermont Goalkeeper Stunned by Firework

The incident occurred in second-half stoppage time with home side Montpellier leading Clermont, 4–2.

Sunday’s Ligue 1 match between Montpellier and Clermont was abandoned after a firework thrown by a fan detonated near Clermont keeper Mory Diaw. 

With five minutes remaining in stoppage time, a firework landed by Diaw before exploding just as he was receiving a pass, causing Diaw to fall to the ground. The keeper was immediately tended to by medical staff before being stretchered off the pitch. 

⚠️ The match between Montpellier and Clermont was suspended after goalkeeper Mory Diaw was stunned by a firework thrown from the Montpellier fans.

The Senegalese goalkeeper had to be stretched off and the players left the pitch. #Ligue1 🇫🇷 #MHSCCF63

pic.twitter.com/iFP7XFFycX

— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) October 8, 2023

Immediately after the incident, Clermont defender Neto Borges was issued a straight red card for appearing to display his middle finger to the crowd. The match was then called off without playing the remaining time after the players were called into the locker room, in accordance with the protocol for dealing with crowd violence. 

Montpellier, the home team, was leading 4–2 when the match was abandoned. According to the Associated Press, Montpellier’s team president said that the person who threw the firework had been arrested and would be banned from the stadium.

Montpellier was leading 4–2 when the match was suspended in second-half stoppage time :: IMAGO/PanoramiC

Ligue 1 has yet to state whether the points a win will be awarded the to Montpellier since the match was in second-half stoppage time, or whether the points will be given to Clermont due to the act of crowd violence. Montpellier is currently in 12th place while Clermont sits last and failing to record a win from its first seven matches.

The incident marks yet another episode of fan violence to start the European season. In August, a Greek man was stabbed to death during a brawl with fans of Croatian side Dinamo Zagreb, which then led to the club’s Champions League match against AEK Athens to be postponed.