St-Etienne ultras delay game with flares in order to get coach sacked

St-Etienne are in a desperate situation. They are bottom of the league, they are winless in the 10 games they have played and their ultras have now called on coach Claude Puel to be sacked. 

And in the build up to the game against Angers, things got worse. Several flares were thrown onto the pitch from the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard when the players were on the pitch preparing to start the game. 

The groundstaff and some members of the club tried to calm the fans down. However, flares kept on raining down as the supporters are angry that the coach, formerly of bitter rivals Lyon, remains in charge. 

Some of the pitch was damaged and a hole in one of the nets was caused by the flares.

The players had to return to the dressing room and the match finally began at 22:00 CEST, one hour later than scheduled.