Top flight football match ends in chaos as ultras invade pitch and confront manager

The match was abandoned after just 22 minutes.

During the clash against Toulouse at Nantes' Stade de La Beaujoire, just after the 20 minute mark, flares were set off into the air by supporters as dozens more 'ultra fans' invaded the pitch, despite the efforts of stewards.

In video footage captured during live coverage of the match, supporters can be seen tearing apart security barriers in order to gain access to the field of play.

Per a report in The Mail, the protest is thought to have been motivated by the club's relegation to the French second division, that was confirmed last week in a 3-0 loss to Marseille.

During the chaos, Nantes' 73-year-old head coach Vahid Halilhodzic came face-to-face with protestors, making his way towards the fans despite the best efforts of security guards to keep the manager away from danger.

Halilhodzic came out of retirement to return to the club in March, but had been unable to keep Nantes away from relegation.

Halilhodzic is said to have attempted to persuade the fans to leave the pitch, to prevent any further damage to the stadium.

The manager emerged from the confrontation with the fans unharmed.

French police eventually worked to clear the pitch, but the game had to be abandoned.

The dramatic scenes from the incident can be viewed in the below clip: