Lyon manager Fabio Grosso was left with a bloody face following an attack on the team’s bus in Marseille on Sunday, October 29.
The match between the two Ligue 1 giants was suspended after Lyon’s bus was stoned on their way to Stade Velodrome on Sunday.
Lyon also revealed that Grosso and his assistant Raffaele Lingo were hit with projectiles and they sustained injuries.
Marseille, who were to welcome Lyon to their home stadium, stated that they “deplores the unacceptable incidents”.
Lyon released a statement condemning the action, they said, “regrets that this type of situation occurs every year in Marseille”.
They also added that the club “invites the authorities to take stock of the seriousness and repetition of this type of incident before an even more serious tragedy occurs”.
The club also stated that several individuals “violently attacked” the team bus and windows were smashed by projectiles.
From the images shared online, one could see Fabio Grosso covered in his own blood and was seen lying in a stretcher.
Lyon also added that Fabio Grosso and his assistant were hit directly from the attacks and were seriously injured in the face.
Marseille wanted the match to continue regardless but the injury sustained by Grosso and Longo changed the plan.
Lyon club president John Textor while speaking to Prime Video said: “[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.”
“Once the window was broken, other projectiles hit him, just above the eye. There were beer bottles, which hit him on the forehead.”
Fabio Grosso
Fabio Grosso Ufficiale OMRI is an Italian football manager and former player who was born on 28 November 1977 and is the current head coach of Ligue 1 club Lyon.
Fabio Grosso had played for a number of smaller Italian teams, including Renato Curi, Chieti, and Perugia, before making his breakthrough during his two seasons at Palermo. As a result, he was sent to Inter Milan in 2006, the reigning Serie A winners.
He played only one season for Inter, helping the team win the Supercoppa Italiana and defend the Serie A championship.
Later on, he also won championships with Juventus and Lyon in France. 2012 saw Grosso retire following his Scudetto victory with Juventus.
In 48 appearances for Italy at the international level, Grosso scored the winner against Germany in the 2006 World Cup semifinal.
In the tournament final, Fabio Grosso also netted the game-winning penalty in the penalty shootout against France, allowing the Azzurri to win the trophy for the fourth time in their history.
Additionally, Fabio Grosso played for Italy in the FIFA Confederations Cup of 2009 and the UEFA Euro 2008.
