MARSEILLE’S LIGUE 1 match against Lyon has been postponed after the visiting team’s bus was attacked on its way to the stadium.
Footage on social media on Sunday evening appeared to show stones being thrown at the OL bus, with head coach Fabio Grosso pictured on a stretcher and with a bloodied face. His assistant was also injured.
French football’s governing body, the Ligue de Football Professionnel, confirmed the match, which had been due to kick off at 7.45pm, was off after an emergency meeting.
Its statement read: “During the crisis unit meeting following the incidents that occurred outside the Stade Velodrome on the route of its bus, Olympique Lyonnais made known its opposition to taking part in the match given the circumstances.
“In consultation with Olympique de Marseille and the public authorities, the OM-OL match will therefore not be played this evening at 8.45pm.
“It will now be up to the Competitions Commission to decide on the fate of this match by application of article 544 of the competition regulations.”
Marseille issued a statement condemning the attack and wishing 45-year-old Italian Grosso well.
“Olympique de Marseille deplores the unacceptable incidents which took place this evening around the Stade Velodrome, against the professional team bus as well as Olympique Lyonnais supporter buses,” the OM statement read.
“The club wishes a speedy recovery to Lyon coach Fabio Grosso and strongly condemns this violent behaviour which has no place in the world of football and in society.
“Due to a handful of mindless people, the game planned for this evening was spoiled and deprived 65,000 supporters of attending a football match.
“The club complies with the decision taken by the LFP and remains at its disposal so that the match which was scheduled for this Sunday, October 29, takes place as quickly as possible and under the best possible conditions at the Stade Velodrome.”
Ireland underage international Jake O’Brien plays his club football with Lyon.
Meanwhile,
Earlier on Sunday, Mbappe struck a late winner at Brest and then riled the opposition and home supporters as he celebrated the goal, pressing his finger to his lips and gesturing to the crowd.
The France captain was booked over the incident and said on social media his actions were due to insults aimed by the crowd at one of his teammates, later confirmed to AFP to be Achraf Hakimi.
Morocco international Hakimi was given preliminary charges of rape in March, accusations the player strongly denies.
“Well of course and I should have even sang with them when they insulted my teammate,” Mbappe wrote in a sarcastic response to a tweet critical of his behaviour.
“Some have really never set foot on a football field no matter the level.”
PSG midfielder Danilo Pereira said the treatment of Hakimi by home fans had made Mbappe “angry”, but Brest coach Eric Roy said he was “a bit surprised” by the reaction from the striker.
“It’s a pretty healthy atmosphere. So of course you can always be jeered. When you have the match you’ve had, you’ve scored two goals, it’s a bit ridiculous. You should be above all that,” said Roy.
“It’s a shame that tarnished the end of the match.”
PSG saw off early season surprise package Brest thanks to a brace from Mbappe either side of half-time and a Warren Zaire-Emery rocket.
In Spain, Atletico Madrid eased to a 2-1 win over Alaves on Sunday to rise above champions Barcelona to third in La Liga.
After league leaders Real Madrid beat the Catalans 2-1 in Saturday’s Clasico, Diego Simeone’s Atletico took full advantage to move a point ahead of Xavi Hernandez’s side.
Atletico trail Los Blancos and second-place Girona by three points, having played a game less.
Alvaro Morata scored and set up Rodrigo Riquelme’s opener as Atletico cruised to victory over Alaves, 17th, at the Metropolitano stadium.
Ander Guevara pulled one back at the death for Alaves but it was too little, too late.
Dutch giants Ajax slipped to the bottom of the Eredivisie table after blowing a half-time lead in a 5-2 thrashing by PSV Eindhoven.
The record 36-time Dutch champions, who sacked coach Maurice Steijn earlier this week before losing to Brighton in the Europa League, suffered a fifth straight defeat in the Dutch top flight for the first time in their history.
Ajax had gradually fallen from grace since the exit of former coach Erik ten Hag to Manchester United in 2022, before falling apart this season.
And in Italy, Marcus Thuram earned revenge on Romelu Lukaku for Serie A’s top dogs Inter Milan with the decisive goal in Sunday’s 1-0 win over Roma, as Napoli came back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with AC Milan.
- Additional reporting from – © AFP 2023.
