Ligue 1 match SUSPENDED twice and players rushed down tunnel as plume of smoke engulfs stadium after flares thrown

MONTPELLIER’S Ligue 1 clash with St-Etienne has been suspended due to flares set off by supporters.

La Pallaide went into the match hoping to bolster their fading survival hopes.

AFPSeveral flares were set off at Stade de la Mosson[/caption] AFPFlares were also thrown on the pitch[/caption] AFPThe match was suspended as a fire burned at the front of the stand[/caption]

But after Jean-Louis Gasset’s side went 2-0 down to their fellow strugglers, supporters let their frustrations boil over.

After Les Vertes doubled their lead early on in the second half, flares were thrown onto the pitch.

This caused a stoppage in play of around three minutes.

The match briefly resumed, before it became apparent that a fire had broken out at the front of the Etang de Thau stand.

Supporters could be seen running to the back of the stand as a plume of black smoke worryingly rose from the blaze.

The referee suspended the contest and sent players back to the dressing rooms as the fire continued to burn.

Etang de Thau is where Montpellier’s black-clad ultras stand during matches.

The 2011-12 Ligue 1 champions have endured a disastrous season.

They went into this weekend bottom of the table with just 15 points, having picked up none on their travels.

Former boss Michel der Zakarian was sacked just minutes after their 5-0 defeat to Marseille in October.

Owner Laurent Nicollin, who bizarrely sits in the dugout during matches, has often cut a forlorn figure.

First team regulars Mousa Tamari, Akor Adams and Arnaud Nordin were sold during the January transfer window.

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