Grosso is badly injured by Marseille fans, but Lyon will be punished?!
Reading Time: 3min | Mon. 30.10.23. | 15:53
The away fans were caught while making racists remarks at the away end
One of the worst incidents in recent years in French football (and the competition is stiff) was last night‘s eye injury to Lyon coach Fabio Grosso. The Italian coach was in a team bus with his players on his way to Velodrome to face Marseille, but their fans threw stones at the bus while it was driving through the city and broken glass injured Grosso and his assistant. The game was cancelled and the aftermath is somehow ironic – Olympique Lyon is facing a heavy punishment, not Marseille.
No, the reason is not because they refused to play after their coach was injured, the reason is because their fans, who stayed at the Velodrome long after the game was canceled were making racist remarks. For the first time after 2015, Lyon fans were allowed to visit Velodrome and participate in the match against Marseille and they were also stoned by the home fans upon their arrival. And then, when inside the stadium, some of them stood out with racist gestures, in particular monkey mimics and Nazi salutes towards the OM supporters.
Fabio Grosso et ses joueurs viennent de sortir sur la pelouse du Vélodrome, vide, à la rencontre des supporters lyonnais qui attendent toujours de pouvoir sortir du stade. Ces derniers les accueillent avec des chants de soutien. pic.twitter.com/XgqoSl3l9X
— Alexandre Ollivieri (@alexollivieri) October 29, 2023
The club is now facing sanctions from the league.
“The club requested the videos to identify the perpetrators of any act contrary to the law, but also contrary to its values, and reiterates its desire to keep them away from the stands“ OL said in a press release.
Today travelling Lyon fans taunted Marseille, infamously known for their large immigrant fan base, with French flags, French passports, monkey gestures, and Roman salutes. 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/V15y0OEjQN
— ♱ (@cobc3l) October 30, 2023
As for the ‘original‘ incident, Marseille probably won‘t be sanctioned, since the unfortunate event happened more than 500 meters from the stadium. Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin announced that five police officers were injured and nine people arrested. He also wants very heavy sanctions to be taken against troublemakers.
"We hope to harshly condemn these people. Since the At the start of the season I banned three fan trips, including twice for OM unfortunately. We should perhaps ban fans from entering stadiums more systematically. In the world of football, we know that there are hooligans or extremely violent people who have been banned from stadiums and who must understand that violence has no place. I hope that there will be administrative and sporting sanctions. It will be up to the Football League (LFP) to carry them out. Sanctions for the clubs? It is up to the clubs to manage their supporters. And I hope that we will have from justice the longest prison sentences possible to be able to condemn these supporters who spoil everyone's party" said the minister.
