Lyon have warned that an “much more severe tragedy” might happen if no motion is taken after supervisor Fabio Grosso was “critically injured” in an assault on the workforce bus in Marseille.
The Ligue 1 match was postponed after the Lyon bus was hit by rocks on its method to Stade Velodrome on Sunday.
Lyon stated Grosso and assistant Raffaele Longo had been hit by projectiles and suffered facial accidents.
Marseille stated it “deplores the unacceptable incidents”.
Six visiting supporters coaches had been additionally focused for the match between Tenth-placed Marseille and Lyon, which was as a result of begin at 7.45pm GMT.
In an announcement, Lyon stated it “regrets that any such scenario happens yearly in Marseille”, including that the membership “invitations the authorities to take inventory of the seriousness and recurrence of most of these incidents earlier than an much more severe tragedy happens.”
Based on the membership, a number of individuals “violently attacked” the workforce bus and the home windows had been smashed by projectiles.
Photos on social media confirmed a bloodied Grosso mendacity on a stretcher. Lyon stated the supervisor and his assistant “had been immediately hit through the assault and suffered severe facial accidents.”
The guests initially wished to proceed and play the match, however opinions modified after the information of Grosso and Longo’s accidents – additionally taking into consideration the gamers’ psychological state.
“[Grosso] cannot have a dialog, he had shards of glass in his face,” Lyon membership president John Textor advised Prime Video.
“I am very indignant. Our gamers, our coach, ready for tonight and the followers wished to see the sport performed.”
Textor added: “As soon as the window was damaged, different projectiles hit him, simply above his eye. There have been beer bottles that hit him on the brow.”
Marseille condemns violent conduct by ‘silly individuals’
Lyon later released footage van Grosso – bandaged above the attention – and their gamers thanked the touring followers who remained within the stadium.
Marseille President Pablo Longoria stated the assaults had been “fully unacceptable”, including: “My first thought goes to Fabio Grosso, somebody I respect and have recognized for a very long time.
“I went to see him as quickly as I bought to the stadium, I noticed how he was doing.”
Marseille issued an announcement saying the membership “needs a speedy restoration to Lyon coach Fabio Grosso and strongly condemns this violent conduct, which has no place on this planet of soccer and in society.”
“Due to a handful of silly individuals, the match scheduled for tonight was ruined and 65,000 supporters had been disadvantaged of attending a soccer match,” she added.
After the assault, a disaster assembly was held the place it was determined that the match wouldn’t go forward. French soccer’s governing physique, LFP, stated the Competitors Fee would resolve the following steps.
Marseille stated they’d respect any choice on the way forward for the match however hoped it might happen “as quickly as attainable and underneath the very best situations on the Stade Velodrome”.
‘Horrible picture for French soccer’
1000’s of followers had been already within the floor when it was introduced that the match had been postponed.
“We’ve got taken under consideration Lyon’s want to not permit the match to go forward,” match referee Francois Letexier stated at a information convention.
“Primarily based on Lyon’s needs and protocol, the choice has been made to not begin the match,” he added, saying stories “have been forwarded to the related authorities, who will resolve what motion to take.”
French Sports activities Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera advised the AFP information company: “These photos are disgusting. Once you see the stoned bus like this, the bloody face of Fabio Grosso… These are unacceptable acts that go towards the values of soccer and sport.
“I hope that the investigation is carried out rapidly, that the perpetrators are discovered and severely punished.”
French soccer skilled Julien Laurens, write on X, described it as a “horrible picture for French soccer”.
“What a disgraceful mess,” he added. “This isn’t the primary time this has occurred (and sadly not the final), however I’ve no phrases for it. As soon as once more unacceptable.”
Seven-time French champions Lyon appointed 45-year-old Grosso as their supervisor in September, after the previous France centre-back Laurent Blanc was fired.
