October 30, (THEWILL) – Sunday’s Ligue 1 fixture between Marseille and Lyon was postponed after Lyon’s team bus was attacked by rival fans on its way to the Stade Velodrome stadium.
Shocking footage emerged on social media showing Lyon’s bus being pelted with stones and projectiles, resulting in injuries to staff and players. Head coach Fabio Grosso was pictured on a stretcher with a bloodied face.
The French Football Federation held an emergency meeting following the incident and took the decision to call the match off due to safety concerns. Both clubs agreed it was not appropriate for the game to go ahead given the circumstances.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the violence, which has marred French football once again this season. It is a damning indictment of the lack of action taken to combat hooliganism and comes just weeks after a match between Marseille and Clermont was abandoned after goalkeeper Mory Diaw was struck by a firecracker thrown from the crowd.
The fate of the fixture will now be decided by the Competition Commission which may force the game to be replayed behind closed doors. However, Lyon are expected to push for the match to be forfeited in their favour.
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Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
