TINO Kadewere’s Lyon have requested that their postponed Ligue 1 fixture away to Marseille be played at a neutral ground following the attack on the team bus by opposing fans.
Three investigations have already been opened by the prosecutor’s office in Marseille, two of them related to the stoning of the team bus and a bus containing Lyon fans.
The third pertains to the behaviour of Lyon supporters in the stadium, who have been accused of racism and performing Nazi salutes.
“At the moment, the safety conditions necessary to play in Marseille have not been met,” said Lyon’s general manager Vincent Ponsot on the club’s TV channel.
“We have to play at a neutral ground… What we want is for the safety of our players to be guaranteed.”
Speaking on the same channel, Lyon deputy managing director Xavier Pierrot said that the club, as well as its staff, would be formally lodging complaints in the coming days.
The match was originally set for last Sunday, but was called off after the home Marseille fans attacked the Lyon bus as it entered the Stade Velodrome, injuring coach Fabio Grosso.
Footage on social media on Sunday evening appeared to show stones being thrown at the bus.
Head coach Fabio Grosso was pictured on a stretcher and with a bloodied face after being hit by falling shards of glass.
He suffered a deep cut above his left eye that needed stitches and had a large bandage wrapped around his head.
Assistant coach Raffaele Longo was also injured, while buses carrying Lyon fans were also attacked. – SkySport/SuperSport.