The Ligue 1 match between Marseille and Lyon was postponed on Sunday evening due to an attack on Lyon’s bus. The head coach, Fabio Grosso, and his assistant, Raffaele Longo, were directly hit and suffered serious facial injuries. Videos on social media showed stones being thrown at the bus, leaving Grosso with a bloodied face while being transported on a stretcher.
The Ligue de Football Professionnel, France’s football governing body, confirmed the postponement of the match, which was originally scheduled to start at 1945GMT. During an emergency meeting, the authorities considered the incidents that occurred outside the Stade Velodrome when Lyon’s bus was en route. Olympique Lyonnais expressed their opposition to playing the match under such circumstances, a decision supported by Marseille and the public authorities.
OL released a statement strongly condemning the attack and initially intended for the match to proceed. However, upon realizing the severity of Grosso and Longo’s injuries, as well as the players’ mental state, they concluded that the match could not go ahead. The club highlighted the violence endured by their staff, players, and Lyon supporters, expressing deep concern for everyone affected. Olivier Giroud emphasized that the broken windows and projectiles constituted a new level of violence, urging authorities to address the seriousness of the situation to prevent future incidents.
Marseille also issued a statement condemning the acts committed and expressing solidarity with Lyon. The club expressed disdain for the incidents that disrupted the match and wished Grosso a swift recovery. Marseille stressed that such violent behavior has no place in football or society, ultimately lamenting the deprivation of 65,000 supporters from attending the game. The club pledged cooperation with the Ligue de Football Professionnel and expressed readiness to reschedule the match at the Stade Velodrome as soon as possible, in the best conditions possible.
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