Lyon match at Marseille abandoned after coach injured in team bus attack

Lyon’s coach Fabio Grosso was left with a head injury after his team’s bus came under attack ahead of Sunday’s French league football game against Marseille.

Fans threw projectiles at the vehicle, smashing the glass which in turn hit Grosso.

Images on social media show the football coach lying on a stretcher with blood on his face and hands. Later images show him up and walking around with a bandage around his head.

The Lyon bus was hit on the way to the Stade Velodrome with the match later called off.

French football’s governing body, the Ligue de Football Professionnel, confirmed the match 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”.

It added: “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.”