St Etienne stars race up tunnel to escape their OWN firework throwing fans as chaos erupts after relegation

Fuming St Etienne supporters charged onto the pitch as frightened players raced up the tunnel in the immediate aftermath of their relegation to Ligue 2.

It was a night to forget for Les Verts as they suffered a heartbreaking 5-4 defeat on penalties to Auxerre after both legs of a fraught tie finished 1-1.

But the efforts of the St Etienne players counted for little as a swarm of supporters sprinted onto the pitch before a significant number launched lit flares at their own players.

It has been a season to forget in French football for fan violence as multiple games have had players walking off and Dimitri Payet was struck with a bottle in November.

The latest incident has left lovers of the beautiful game open-mouthed at how quickly things turned sour within the Stade–Geoffrey Guichard.

And now pressure will fall on Ligue 1 chiefs to hammer the yobs who once again blighted another high profile match with UEFA likely to take a dim view.

It comes just 24 hours after the Champions League Final where Liverpool supporters were sprayed with mace ahead of their game with Real Madrid as they tried to reach the Stade De France.