Troyes Fans Protest City Football Group Ownership, Match Abandoned

On Friday, May 3, 2024, a Ligue 2match between Troyes and Valenciennes was abandoned in the 89th minute due to fan protests against City Football Group (CFG) ownership. The game was tied 1-1 when fans started throwing flares and chanting "merci City" in bitter acknowledgment of the club's mismanagement.

Why this matters: This incident highlights the growing discontent among French football fans towardsmulti-club ownership, which could lead to a broader movement against external ownership and influence in the sport. As the trend of multi-club ownership continues to spread, fan protests like this could become more frequent, potentially reshaping the future of football governance.

CFG's ownership has been disastrous for Troyes, who are on the brink of a second successive relegation, seven points off Dunkerque with three games left. Fans are unhappy with the club's transfer policies, including the signing of Savio, a club-record signing from Atletico Mineiro, who has never played for the club and is reportedly set to join Manchester City in the summer. Other expensive, young signings from 2022 have also had limited game time before being sent out on loan.

The match descended into anarchy when fans started throwing flares in protest against CFG. Players even lobbed flares back into the stands, prompting police to intervene and stop the disorder from escalating. The referee eventually called off the match.

Troyes condemned the protests, stating:"ESTAC Troyes condemns the actions of a minority of supporters following this evening's home game against Valenciennes. Pyrotechnic devices were thrown from the stands on to the field on several occasions, which ultimately prevented the end of the match. These actions resulted in the referee having no choice but to suspend the match before its conclusion."

The incident highlights the growing discontent among French football fans towards multi-club ownership. Strasbourg fans have consistently protested against Todd Boehly and BlueCo, the Chelsea owners who bought a majority stake in the Ligue 1 club last summer. Lorient, in whom Bournemouth chairman Billy Foley has a significant minority stake, are also in the drop zone of Ligue 1.

City Football Group, founded in 2013, is majority-owned by Abu Dhabi United Group, owned by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a member of the Abu Dhabi Royal Family and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates. The group owns 12 clubs, including Manchester City, Girona, Palermo, New York City, and Yokohama F Marinos, among others.

The abandoned match and fan protests at Troyes underscore the growing tensions between supporters and multi-club ownership groups in French football. With Troyes facing an increasingly likely relegation to the third division, the discontent among fans is expected to intensify in the coming weeks as the club's future hangs in the balance.

Key Takeaways

• Ligue 2 match between Troyes and Valenciennes abandoned due to fan protests.
• Fans protested against City Football Group (CFG) ownership and mismanagement.
• Troyes faces likely relegation to third division, fueling fan discontent.
• CFG's ownership has been criticized for poor transfer policies and lack of investment.
• Incident highlights growing tensions between French fans and multi-club ownership groups.