Here’s why Troyes FC fans are showing their anger and protesting against City Football Group, the owner of Manchester City football
Troyes fans are not convinced with something and their home match against Valenciennes had to be called off. After been eliminated from Ligue 1 the previous season, the squad is in danger of being relegated again.
The fans became enraged at Troyes’s defeat against a team that had already been demoted and vented their resentment on the club’s owners. In Ligue 2, they are currently only three points ahead of Concerneau and Quevilly-Rouen and currently, they are placed 17th.
Who is the owner of Troyes FC and what is the French club’s relation to Man City after another relegation
The score was 1-1 when the game was abandoned just ahead of the full time, at the 89th minute. With three games in hand, the Troyes are seven points out of safety and following this, supporters couldn’t control their feelings and started throwing flares on the pitch by chanting “merci City.”
In videos circulated on social media, fans can be seen hurling flares onto the ground, engulfing the players in a thick cloud of smoke. As the authorities intervened to ensure everyone’s safety, a few Troyes players became agitated at the behaviour of their home fans and began throwing back some of the flares.
A dark night for Troyes. Their home match vs Valenciennes is abandoned as fans throw flares onto pitch, and some players throw them back into stands! Troyes are on the brink of successive relegations. Owned by the City Football Group, fans ironically chant "Merci City". pic.twitter.com/ocRWes9igx
— Colin Millar (@Millar_Colin) May 3, 2024
The question arises, why are the fans protesting against City Football Club?
Here’s why Troyes fans protesting against City Football Club
Before we start, The City Football Group owns both Troyes and Manchester City alongside Girona FC. In September 2020, they bought a majority stake in Troyes as part of their expanding multi-club strategy.
What really soured the relationship between Troyes supporters and CFG was the club’s transfer policy and most recently of Savio’s loan. His move to Troyes, it has turned out, is the most controversial and well-known as he is set to move to Manchester City, having loaned to Girona FC currenlty, without a single match played for the parent club.
🚨🔵🇧🇷 EXCLUSIVE: Manchester City agree deal to sign Sávio from parent club Girona in the summer.
Documents to be signed in the next days.
Despite bids from German and English clubs, Sávio will join #MCFC.
He’s now 100% focused on Girona to end the season in the best way. pic.twitter.com/oCDNy5d6Eo
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) February 5, 2024
The post about City signing Savio in the summer has angered than fans even more with fans posting comments like, “This should be illegal,” or “same old City, always cheating,” and “how is this even possible,” etc.
This has to be illegal there’s no way this is possible
— fan account (@Asensii20) February 5, 2024
In the summer of 2022, the team was able to spend €24 million (£20.5 million) on new players thanks to the backing of a wealthy team like City, ensuring that their net spending was higher than that of all but three Ligue 1 teams.
But none of their expensive signings have had enough time to show results. Fans were expecting something from Savio to contribute for the club in their progress, but while the club is on its verge to be relegated again, and the Brazilian forward to move to the three time Premier League winners, it just doesn’t fit well with the fans.