In a provocative statement, Vahid Halilhodžić, the coach of Nantes, commented on the events that took place during the Nantes vs Toulouse match, where masked fans stormed the pitch in protest of the team’s relegation to the French Ligue 2.
Halilhodžić tried to intervene to calm the situation, noting that he was aware of rumors about the fans’ intentions to invade the pitch but did not expect it to actually happen.
The Bosnian coach recounted the details of his intervention, saying: “When I saw people running towards the locker rooms, I tried to take that crazy step to tell them: stop. I knew that stopping the match could have serious consequences for Nantes, such as stadium closure and point deductions next season, which would put the club in a very complicated situation.”
He added that he tried to stop them involuntarily but did not succeed, as some of them responded by saying: “Let us do what we want, Vahid,” showing determination in their stance while masked.
Vahid Halilhodžić did not feel any fear during these events, affirming that he has experienced more dangerous situations in his life.
He said: “It was my duty to stop this chaos; it was stronger than me. I never thought for a second that they would assault me. The two young men who passed by me showed no aggression towards me, and our security man was holding me; I was telling him to let me go so I could stop what was happening.”
These statements highlight the coach’s bravery and dedication to defending the interests of Vahid Halilhodžić Nantes even in the most difficult circumstances.
