Sunday’s highly-anticipated top-flight French derby between Nice and Marseille had to be abandoned after the latter’s ultras threw missiles and invaded the pitch.
Before the match came to a standstill in the 75th minute, Marseille’s Dimitri Payet was hit by a bottle and angrily responded by throwing it back into the crowd, prompting fans to storm the pitch as stewards and players struggled to restrain them. The chaos escalated as the players tried to leave the pitch, with scuffles breaking out and enraged Marseille coach Jorge Sampaoli having to be restrained by his staff.
After a protracted delay, Nice’s players came out to finish the game – but Marseille’s players were reluctant to resume. Play was held up for 90 minutes before the game was declared abandoned with Nice leading 1-0 at the time through Kasper Dolberg’s first-half goal.
“Our players were attacked,” said Marseille president Pablo Longoria. “We decided not to resume the match because the safety of our players was not guaranteed.”
The incident came just two weeks after Marseille’s opening 3-2 win at Montpellier when fans pelted the pitch with bottles. That game was halted in the 89th minute after Marseille substitute Valentin Rongier was hit on the head. Montpellier’s Florent Mollet was also hit as he prepared to take a corner.
“This is the second time it’s happened,” added Longoria. “We have already experienced this in Montpellier where we decided to continue after the decision to carry on was made.
“What happened today is unacceptable. We must make it a precedent for French football and that’s why we decided to return to Marseille.”