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THE IMAGES FROM the pitch invasion and threatening chants at the end of the Lille and Montpellier game recently shocked many, but don’t come as a great surprise to most. In an increasingly pressurised sport, where results and instant success are demanded by everyone, it is common to see fans become frustrated and feel isolated, although fan protests are one thing and players being attacked another.

A Lille spokesperson bizarrely likened the incident to the Heysel Disaster of 1985, where 39 Juventus fans were killed. Those links are a little insensitive and wildly exaggerated but the French Football Federation needs to take action to ensure player safety is maintained. In the wake of the incident, former Lille star, Eden Hazard, urged the fans to get behind the team again, writing on Twitter: “This evening, I’m hurting for my Lille…remember, stay united and together in the good times just as in the most difficult moments. Go LOSC!”

To help bring some perspective, Lille are in the midst of a relegation battle after winning the league and cup double little more than seven years ago. Their fall has been consistent with many smaller clubs who have risen from mid-table also-rans to league champions. Leicester City are an English comparison.

Lille won the Ligue 1 title – their only title to date – in 2011 under the management of Rudi Garcia. This was during his second spell with the club as, under his guidance, they made the push from Europa League contenders to champions of France. Under Garcia, Lille played attractive, attacking football. This was highlighted by 2009’s league effort where they finished fourth and scored a division-high 72 goals.

Their title win and subsequent exposure in the Champions League gave Lille their moment in the spotlight, and it’s little wonder their best players and indeed the manager attracted the attention of bigger clubs. Garcia left to join Roma in 2013 – the same season in which they sold Eden Hazard to Chelsea – but it didn’t derail them as they narrowly missed out on European qualification by one point. Since then they have finished third, eighth, fifth and 11th as their slide down the league started.