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Marseille taking legal action after Payet struck by bottle at Lyon

Marseille are pressing charges after Dimitri Payet was struck by a bottle thrown by a spectator a...



Marseille are pressing charges after Dimitri Payet was struck by a bottle thrown by a spectator at Sunday's game away to Lyon. 

The match was abandoned with just four minutes played.

A 32-year old man remains in police custody in connection with the incident, which is just the latest to bring shame upon French football.

A Marseille game away to Nice was also abandoned after local ultras at the Allianz Riviera Stadium rioted, and invaded the pitch. Payet was also struck by a bottle thrown from the stands on that occasion.

Games involving Bordeaux and Montpellier, Lens and Lille and Marseille and Angers have also been marred by crowd violence.

"This is unacceptable," said French sports minister Roxana Maracineanu, "It is intolerable that we can attack the players in the game by attacking them in this way."

Payet did not partake in Marseille training on Monday and, according to RMC Sport, will undergo a medical examination to determine any psychological and potential physical consequences.

The Ligue de Football Professionel (LFP) have moved swiftly to implement a stadium ban upon Lyon. Their December 1 meeting with Reims in Ligue 1 will play out behind closed doors.

Further sanctions are likely to be meted out at the LFP's next scheduled meeting on December 8.

However outspoken Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas claimed it was a "bad faith" argument to say the club should be deducted points based on Sunday night's events.

Aulas says the fact that the individual responsible was not part of their ultras group means they should not be on the receiving end of stricter punishments.

"I remain in favour of severe sanctions," he said, "including the withdrawal of points for invasion of the field or fights, because it is the only decision that can stop groups of supporters.

"But we are in a different case because the group 'Bad Gones' is dissociating itself from the individual involved."

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Dimitri Payet France Ligue 1 Ligue One Lyon Marseille