CHAOS ensued just a few minutes into relegated Nantes’ final match in Ligue 1 against Toulouse as furious fans invaded the pitch and forced the game to be abandoned.
Tensions reached boiling point as the soon-to-be Ligue 2 side’s manager Vahid Halilhodzic had to be held back when he came close to clashing with the angry supporters.
The shock pitch invasion took place just 20 minutes into the match at Nantes’ Beaujoire Stadium.
This comes after the historic French club’s relegation was confirmed with them set to finish second to last, above Metz who are bottom of the table.
Invading fans also lit flares while Nantes and Toulouse players rushed to the back.
But the most heartbreaking image arguably played out after the game was suspended.
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That was when the camera caught Halilhodzic, 73, cutting a devastated figure as he broke down in tears.
The Bosnian tactician is set to retire after a successful 33-year managerial career.
And the game against Toulouse was going to be the swan song of his incredible football run.
But the events in Nantes ruined the ex-Paris Saint-Germain‘s farewell from the dugouts.
Fans watching from home were left heartbroken as they watched Halilhodzic fall apart.
One fan tweeted: “A really emotional and chaotic moment in football history.”
Another commented: “Sad ending for a long career. Football can be brutal.”
A third fan wrote: “Such a pity.”
This fan said: “Why all this…?”
And that one added: “A career ending like this after decades in football is honestly heartbreaking… Not the way anyone should say goodbye.”
The game was abandoned soon after the violent scenes broke out.
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