French side Troyes have gone from Ligue 1 to the third division in consecutive seasons, and their fans are blaming Manchester City.
The team from northeast France were facing Valenciennes with their Ligue 2 survival on the line, having only just been relegated from the top tier last summer.
Things unsurprisingly didn’t go to plan, and fans started to turn on their City Group ownership with the teams above them winning, rendering their match pointless.
Chants of ‘Merci City’ went around the ground in the final 10 minutes, and then with two to play a barrage of flairs were thrown from the away end, with the referee then ending the match early.
Troyes are one of a number of clubs owned by City Group, but unlike the successful LaLiga outfit Girona, their fans certainly aren’t happy.
Coupled with the on-pitch disasters, those who follow the club have been left infuriated by the situation surrounding Savio.
The Brazilian winger was signed by Troyes, but never played for them before being loaned out to Girona, who he will depart for City this summer.
Fans have protested the ownership and such decisions this season, and had the support of former player Jérôme Rothen.
The 13-time France international and vocal pundit said: “We must denounce it, Troyes is not a toy.
“They perhaps imagine that, because it’s Troyes, we’re not going to be vigilant. I find that problematic.
“I just want to tell them: ‘get out, French football doesn’t ‘don’t need you’. I’m not ashamed to say it, we don’t need them.
“It makes me angry. Through this player, everything is summed up. They are using this club as a springboard for certain players. He is a quality player who could have contributed things in Troyes.
“With Savio, we have crossed a line, we must denounce it. If the protests are not enough, don’t come to the stadium anymore, leave them in their shit, make them understand that after a while they will have to leave.”
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