Football: Nancy fined for using smoke bombs

This is probably not the return AS Nancy-Lorraine fans had dreamed of. Promoted to Ligue 2 three years after leaving, the club managed by Pablo Correa was heavily sanctioned by the federal disciplinary committee of the FFF (French Football Federation) this Thursday evening, according to information from L'Est Républicain .

The latter in fact inflicted four matches behind closed doors on the Lorraine team, following the massive use of pyrotechnic devices, 250 in total, during the celebrations of the anniversary of the local ultra group, Saturday FC, against Aubagne on April 18.

A decision that should have a strong impact on the start of the season for ASNL, which has been punished by the FFF with another match behind closed doors for the same reason, this time in connection with the match against Rouen on May 16.

And the case could be even more serious, since the commission is currently considering an appeal requested by the Nancy club after a sentence of two matches behind closed doors, one of which was suspended, decided after incidents between supporters during the reception of Sochaux, on February 14.

In total, Nancy could therefore start its season with six home games without its supporters, which would represent a real blow for a club with fragile finances, for whom survival promises to be difficult to achieve.

According to L'Est Républicain, the ASNL management is expected to appeal the decision, which comes just as the subscription campaign has just begun.