Lyon`s Ligue 1 match at Marseille was postponed after the away team’s bus was violently attacked, leaving manager Fabio Grosso stained in blood.
The two clubs are bitter rivals in French football, and Lyon’s team bus was pelted with stones and bricks as it was en route to Marseille’s Stade Vélodrome. Grosso, a former World Cup champion with Italy, was injured and bled profusely when a piece of glass was cut into his face.
The incident led to the decision to cancel the match, from which the home team will have to endure additional sanctions.
Rocks thrown at the bus punctured the windows, and shards of glass hit Grosso in the face. Grosso’s assistant, Raffaele Longo, was also said to have been hit in the eye by glass when the right-side window of the bus was blown out after the attack.
The remaining incidents will have to be reported to the competent authorities. ” But according to RMC Sport, away coach John Textor disputed the officials’ views by saying, “Our team wants to play; we said we are ready to play.
Bouches-du-Rhône police also issued a press release confirming that “the federation has taken the decision not to continue the match”.
Marseille released an official statement that read: “Olympique de Marseille regrets the unacceptable incidents that occurred this evening around the Orange Vélodrome stadium, targeting the professional team bus as well as buses of Olympique Lyonnais supporters.
“The club wishes Lyon coach Fabio Grosso a speedy recovery and strongly condemns this act of violence that has no place in the world of football or society. ”
Grosso was only named at the French club last month, replacing former Manchester United defender Laurent Blanc in the training squad.
