Lyon Confirm Coach Fabio Grosso Was Seriously Injured In Marseille

French Ligue 1 club, Lyon has confirmed that their coach, Fabio Grosso was “seriously injured” after an attack on the team bus in Marseille on Sunday, October 29.

As Lyon were driving to the Stade Velodrome for their French Ligue 1 clash with Marseille on Sunday, fans believed to be those of Marseille attacked them with projectiles including stones and fireworks.

According to Lyon, Raffaele Longo, Grosso’s assistant, and himself, both suffered facial injuries from projectiles.

Social media users posted pictures of Grosso bleeding while he was on a stretcher. The manager and his assistant were “directly hit and seriously injured in the face during the attack,” according to Lyon.

The visitors’ original desire to play the game was changed after learning of Grosso and Longo’s injuries; also, the players’ psychological states were taken into account.

Following the attack, Lyon issued a warning, citing the possibility of an “even more serious tragedy” if necessary action is not taken in response to the attack on the team.

Lyon club president John Textor told Prime Video, “[Grosso] can’t hold a conversation, he had shards of glass in his face.

“I’m very angry – our players, our coach, prepared for tonight and the fans wanted to see the game played.”

Textor added: “Once the window was broken, other projectiles hit him, just above the eye. There were beer bottles, which hit him on the forehead.”

Also, six visiting supporter coaches were attacked ahead of the game between Lyon, who are at the bottom of the table, and Marseille, who are in tenth place.

In a statement, Lyon said it “regrets that this type of situation occurs every year in Marseille”, and it also “invites the authorities to take stock of the seriousness and repetition of this type of incident before an even more serious tragedy occurs”.

In a crisis meeting held after the attack, it was decided not to proceed with the game. The Competitions Commission of the LFP, which oversees French football, will determine the course of action.

Though they hoped the match “takes place as quickly as possible and under the best possible conditions at the Stade Velodrome,” Marseille said they would abide by any decision made regarding the game.