GRAPHIC CONTENT WARNING
A bloodied Lyon manager Fabio Grosso appeared on the attention-grabbing front page of L’Equipe on Monday after he was injured in an attack on their team bus by hooligans in Marseille.
Grosso was left with shards of glass embedded in his face after a barrage of rocks and bottles smashed the vehicle’s windows as it arrived in Marseille for Sunday night’s Ligue 1 match.
The Italian coach and his assistant Raffaele Longo were both injured and required medical treatment upon arrival at the Stade Velodrome, after which the match was postponed.
The disgraceful attack led to condemnation from both clubs and the French government, with Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera calling the incident ‘abhorrent’.
Bloodied Lyon coach Fabio Grosso featured in a striking front page of L’Equipe on Monday after the team bus was attacked with stones, fireworks and bottles as it arrived in Marseille
The Italian coach required medical attention after shards of glass hit his face
Grosso was pictured wearing bandages after undergoing treatment at the Stade Velodrome
After the attack in Marseille, several windows of the Lyon team bus were left shattered
L’Equipe described it as ‘disgusting and shameful’ and added that French football had been ‘plunged into a new crisis’.
Lyon, who are bottom of Ligue 1, were on their way to the Stade Velodrome for Sunday night’s match with ninth-placed Marseille when their bus was attacked.
Rocks, bricks, fireworks and bottles were launched at the bus windows by a group on the street, breaking several. The damage forced the bus to stop, making it a stationary target.
Former Italian World Cup winner Grosso suffered significant injuries and bleeding profusely after shards of glass hit his face.
He was later seen heavily bandaged after receiving medical attention when the bus arrived at the stadium. His assistant Longo reportedly suffered an eye injury from flying glass.
Lyon’s players appeared visibly shaken as they got off the bus and opted not to play the match.
Lyon supporters already in the stadium tried to break the net and separate them from the Marseille fans.
Six buses carrying visiting Lyon fans were also targeted with a video showing a group throwing objects, including fireworks, at one of their vehicles.
Lyon said in a statement that it was far from the first time such incidents had occurred in Marseille.
Lyon fans tried to break the net, preventing them from entering the field in the ground
Several buses carrying Lyon supporters were also attacked as they arrived in Marseille
“Lyon regrets that this type of situation occurs every year in Marseille,” the report said. The club ‘invites the authorities to take stock of the seriousness and recurrence of such incidents before an even more serious tragedy occurs.’
The club confirmed that Gross and his assistant “were directly hit during the attack and suffered serious facial injuries.”
Lyon club president John Textor, speaking on Amazon Prime Video, said Grosso “couldn’t have a conversation (because) he has shards of glass in his face.”
Textor added: “I’m very angry – our players, our coach, had prepared for tonight and the fans wanted to see the game played.
“Once the window was broken, other projectiles hit him just above his eye. There were beer bottles that hit him on the forehead.’
French Sports Minister Oudea-Castera told the AFP news agency: ‘These images are disgusting. When you see the stoned bus like this, the bloody face of Fabio Grosso… These are unacceptable acts that go against the values of football and sport.
The Ligue 1 match was postponed and French authorities would decide when the match will be replayed and whether fans can attend
Grosso was only appointed Lyon manager a month before the match, taking over from Laurent Blanc
The destroyed Lyon team bus was also on the front page of Le Figaro on Monday
“I hope that the investigation is carried out quickly, that the perpetrators are found and severely punished.”
Marseille president Pablo Longoria described the attacks as “completely unacceptable”, with the club issuing a statement condemning “this violent behavior, which has no place in the world of football and in society.”
The French league called a crisis meeting and said the Competition Commission will decide when the match will be played again and whether fans will be allowed.
Grosso was appointed Lyon manager just a month before the attack, taking over from former Manchester United defender Laurent Blanc.
Lyon’s performances have not improved since his appointment, with just one point earned in the four games following the management change.
They are currently two points behind Clermont at the bottom of the standings. Marseille went into Sunday night’s meeting in ninth place, having recorded three wins in their opening nine league games.
The rivalry between the two clubs dates back to 1945 and is branded as the ‘Choc des Olympiques’, which translates to ‘Clash of the Olympics’.