Lyon boss Fabio Grosso required 13 stitches after the French outfit’s bus was attacked by Marseille supporters ahead of Sunday’s postponed Ligue 1 clash. Grosso emerged from the vehicle suffering from gruesome facial injuries after the bus was ambushed by missiles.
Rocks, glass and other objects were thrown at the Lyon team as they arrived for the match. Players were left visibly shaken by the attack, over which Lyon are now seeking legal action.
The appalling bombardment left windows smashed and the vehicle damaged. Grosso and his assistant, Raffaele Longo, were injured and required emergency medical treatment.
Former Italy star Grosso had shards of glass stuck in his face and has now revealed that he required 13 stitches. In a snap shared on social media, the 2006 World Cup winner appears in good spirits after undergoing treatment.
Sky Sport have shared an image on social media of Grosso with a lengthy stitch that runs from above his left eye and onto his eyelid. The gruesome injuries left him unable to hold a conversation with Lyon president John Textor.
American owner Textor told Amazon Prime that Grosso “couldn’t hold a conversation [because] he has shards of glass in his face.”
He added: “I am 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.”
Lyon have insisted that they will take legal action over the incident. A club statement added: “OL regrets that this type of situation recurs every year in Marseille and calls on the authorities to assess the seriousness and repetition of this type of incident before an even more serious tragedy occurs.”
Marseille have also condemned the attack. “What happened to Fabio Grosso is totally unacceptable,” president Pablo Longoria said.
“This is something that cannot happen in football. Even if it happened outside of the stadium, it is unacceptable. I am angry and appalled by the situation.”
Nine arrests have been made in the aftermath of the attack, although none have been made over the specific incident involving Grosso. French interior minister Gerald Darmanin said: “I hope the highest possible prison sentences will be handed to those fans that ruined the party for everyone.”
