The French Football League (LFP) has officially closed the chapter on the chaotic conclusion to the Ligue 1 season with a decisive ruling on the abandoned match between FC Nantes and Toulouse FC. While the scoreline will remain 0-0 as it stood at the 22-minute mark, the decision spared Nantes from a harsher penalty—losing the match by default (3-0)—which had been a possibility under consideration.

This outcome lifts Toulouse to an impressive 9th place in the standings, displacing Lorient in the process. With 45 points to their name, the Violets now share the same tally as Lorient but edge ahead thanks to a superior goal difference (3 vs. -1). This marks Toulouse’s highest-ever league position since the RedBird investment group acquired the club, capping off a steady upward trajectory in recent seasons. Though Toulouse fell short of surpassing Strasbourg in 8th place (53 points), the LFP’s decision ensures their season ends on a high note.

The league’s statement left no room for ambiguity: “Following review of the investigation report, the Commission has definitively ratified the score recorded on the pitch at the time of the definitive abandonment of the match (0-0).” This terse announcement, released late on the evening of May 27, was accompanied by disciplinary measures targeting FC Nantes for the unrest that marred the final matchday.

Empty Stadium, No Sporting Penalty for Nantes

The disruption began when unruly supporters launched flares onto the pitch at Stade de la Beaujoire, prompting dozens of masked ultras to storm the field in protest against the club’s relegation. Despite the chaos, officials managed to contain the situation, but the damage to the season’s finale was done.

In response, the LFP handed down sanctions focused primarily on stadium restrictions rather than point deductions. Nantes will face a blanket stadium ban for one match, paired with a two-game closure of the Loire Tribune—the section from which the protesters descended. Notably, this is the home of the Brigade Loire, one of the club’s most vocal ultra groups. While the club will commence its Ligue 2 campaign without fan support, it avoided the more severe sporting penalties that loomed over them.