Police take finger prints within the Lyon workforce bus that was attacked exterior the Velodrome Stadium previous to the French League One match between Olympique de Marseille and Lyon in Marseille, France, on October 29, 2023.
| Photograph Credit score: AP
Lyon coach Fabio Grosso suffered a head harm because the workforce bus got here beneath assault from followers throwing projectiles, forcing the postponement of the French league soccer sport at Marseille on Sunday.
The workforce bus was hit on the way in which to Stade Velodrome, shattering some home windows. Grosso was injured by falling shards of glass and wanted medical remedy along with his face bleeding closely. Lyon assistant coach Raffaele Longo was additionally injured.
Grosso suffered a deep reduce above his left eye that required stitches and a big bandage wrapped round his head.
“Our workforce (had) determined they’d play,” Lyon president John Textor instructed Amazon Prime Video. “I’m clearly pleased with the captain, pleased with the gamers, for wanting to try this.”
Lyon modified its thoughts when extra particulars about Grosso’s situation emerged.
“It was emotional. We have now a coach who’s received blood popping out of his head, he’s received items of glass caught in his head,” Textor stated. “I couldn’t have a dialog with him. It regarded like he had a concussion. At that time, our workforce was combined. They stated, you recognize, it’s not an emotional, bodily sport. It’s a tactical sport, and this isn’t the way in which soccer ought to be performed. Because the night time went on, I believe our workforce supported the choice of the referee.”
A couple of minutes earlier than the scheduled kickoff time at 1945 GMT, a message on the enormous display at Stade Velodrome stated: “Pricey supporters, the sport is not going to be performed tonight.”
“Lyon didn’t need the sport to be performed,” referee Francois Letexier instructed a information convention. “We additionally utilized the protocol, which states that the sport shouldn’t be performed when a celebration is injured and his participation is compromised due to this bodily assault.”
Ten years in the past, followers from Marseille and Lyon fought in a violent brawl after assembly one another by probability at a service station forecourt after touring to and from their respective video games. The bloody conflict left 17 injured, and the ambiance has been tense ever since once they play one another.
Marseille president Pablo Longoria stated Sunday’s assault was unacceptable.
“What occurred to Lyon coach Fabio Grosso should be prevented. It’s utterly unacceptable,” Longoria instructed Amazon Prime Video. “I’m indignant. I’m actually upset by the present scenario. It shouldn’t occur in soccer or in society.”
Grosso scored the profitable penalty kick for Italy within the shootout victory over France within the 2006 World Cup remaining.
Each golf equipment have been beneath strain these days.
Regardless of changing Marcelino with Gennaro Gattuso as coach in September, Marseille remains to be exhibiting poor type with one win and three losses in its final 4 league video games.
Gattuso went to test on his former Italy teammate within the locker room.
Lyon is the one workforce nonetheless winless within the league. Changing Laurent Blanc with Grosso as coach in September hasn’t paid off for Lyon, which sits in final place.