France postpones Marseille vs. Lyon match after visitors' bus stoned

By Can Erozden

A French top-tier football league match between Olympique Marseille and Olympique Lyon was called off on Sunday after Lyon’s bus was pelted with stones and its head coach Fabio Grosso was injured in his face.

France's Ligue 1 Uber Eats said in a statement that the match would not be played due to pre-match violent incidents outside Marseille's Velodrome Stadium.

Olympique Lyon including Grosso were in their team's bus, which was on its way to Velodrome Stadium, but it was stoned by Olympique Marseille supporters, the French sports daily L'Equipe reported.

It added that the windows of the bus were shattered and Grosso, who was hit in the face, was seen bleeding.

Grosso, a former Italy defender and 2006 FIFA World Cup champion, underwent medical intervention.

"Olympique de Marseille deplores the unacceptable incidents that took place this evening in the vicinity of the Stade Orange Velodrome involving the official team bus and buses of the supporters of Olympique Lyonnais.

"The club wishes Lyon coach Fabio Grosso a speedy recovery and strongly condemns this violent behavior, which has no place in the world of football or in society," the club said in a statement.

Olympique Marseille are in ninth place with 12 points in the French Ligue 1 standings.

Their opponents Olympique Lyon are at the bottom of the league with three points.

Nice are leading the French league with 22 points in 10 matches.