LFP disciplinary commission awards match victory to Saint-Etienne against Montpellier

Saint-Etienne has secured a significant victory off the pitch as the LFP disciplinary commission ruled in their favor following the abandoned match against Montpellier on March 16, 2025. The decision comes after serious incidents at Stade de la Mosson forced the referee to stop the match permanently at the 63rd minute, with Saint-Etienne leading 2-0 despite playing with only ten men against Montpellier’s eleven.

In Short

Disciplinary decision awards victory to Saint-Etienne

The Professional Football League’s disciplinary commission announced on April 2, 2025, that AS Saint-Etienne has been awarded a victory by forfeit over Montpellier HSC. This ruling confirms the 2-0 score that stood when referee François Letexier made the decision to permanently abandon the match. For betting enthusiasts tracking Ligue 1 outcomes, this resolution brings clarity to what had been an uncertain situation affecting league standings.

The incident-filled match, part of the 26th round of Ligue 1 fixtures, descended into chaos when multiple serious disturbances occurred in the stadium. The troubles began in the first half with the explosion of an agricultural bomb in the Étang de Thau stand, home to Montpellier’s ultras. This explosion injured a female spectator who required immediate medical attention from firefighters present at the venue.

Following Lucas Stassin’s goal for Saint-Etienne in the 53rd minute, which extended their lead to 2-0, approximately fifty flares were lit in the ultras section. Some of these flares were thrown onto the pitch, endangering players and officials. Stadium stewards attempting to protect the field suffered consequences, with one requiring hospitalization for minor burns. The situation deteriorated further when a fire broke out in the same stand, producing thick black smoke and creating an unsafe environment for everyone present.

Montpellier, currently sitting at the bottom of Ligue 1 and nine points behind the relegation playoff position (currently occupied by Le Havre), had hoped the commission might order the remaining 30 minutes to be played at a later date. This would have given them an opportunity to salvage points from the match. However, the commission’s decision to award the victory to Saint-Etienne reflects the severity of the incidents and aligns with precedents in similar cases where match abandonment resulted from fan misconduct.

Additional sanctions and appeal options for Montpellier

Beyond confirming Saint-Etienne’s victory, the disciplinary commission imposed additional penalties on Montpellier HSC. The club must play their remaining home matches this season with a partial stadium closure, specifically affecting the Étang de Thau tribune where the incidents originated. This sanction will significantly impact the atmosphere at Montpellier’s remaining home fixtures and represents a substantial financial blow to the club already struggling in the relegation zone.

Predictive models had suggested various possible outcomes for this disciplinary case, with some analysts foreseeing this exact result based on previous commission decisions. The statistical likelihood of point deductions versus match forfeiture had been a hot topic among those who closely follow French football’s regulatory framework.

Following the commission’s ruling, Montpellier retains the right to appeal through two potential channels. Their first option is to appeal to the French Football Federation’s superior appeals commission. However, historical patterns suggest this body often upholds or even increases penalties imposed by the LFP’s disciplinary commission. The club must carefully consider this approach, as seeking leniency could paradoxically result in harsher sanctions.

Alternatively, Montpellier can appeal directly to the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF) for conciliation, a path increasingly chosen by clubs in similar situations. This approach bypasses the FFF appeals commission but offers no guarantee of a favorable outcome. Interestingly, the disciplinary commission could have chosen to restart the match but with a one-point penalty for Montpellier, which might have been equally detrimental to their survival hopes in Ligue 1 where disciplinary committee decisions can significantly impact relegation battles.

Impact on the relegation battle in Ligue 1

The commission’s decision has significant implications for the Ligue 1 relegation battle. With the 2-0 victory confirmed, Saint-Etienne gains three valuable points that strengthen their position in the fight for survival. This outcome could prove decisive in the final standings, particularly in a season where the margins between safety and relegation appear exceptionally tight.

For Montpellier, the ruling compounds their already precarious situation. As the current bottom club with a nine-point gap to overcome, every potential point holds enormous value. The decision effectively removes any hope they had of salvaging something from this fixture, further complicating their path to survival with the season entering its final phase.

Advanced performance metrics had identified this match as potentially pivotal in the relegation equation. The confirmation of Saint-Etienne’s victory adjusts survival probability calculations across the bottom five clubs, with mathematical models now showing significantly reduced chances for Montpellier to avoid the drop to Ligue 2.

The partial stadium closure will also affect Montpellier’s home advantage in their remaining fixtures. Historic data shows that teams with partial closures experience a measurable decrease in performance, typically losing between 0.3 and 0.5 expected points per home game compared to normal conditions. For a team already struggling, this additional handicap could prove decisive.

As the season progresses toward its conclusion, attention now turns to how both clubs respond to this decision. Saint-Etienne will look to build momentum from this off-field victory, while Montpellier faces the dual challenge of overcoming both the sporting deficit and addressing the underlying fan behavior issues that led to this situation.