The Ligue 1 fixture between Marseille and Lyon was abandoned just before kick-off after the latter side’s team bus were attacked pre-match, causing injuries to their head coach Fabio Grosso and assistant Raffaele Longo.

Lyon confirmed in a statement that, as well as the team bus, six vehicles carrying supporters had also been targeted. The club said “several reinforced windows were shattered by heavy projectiles of unknown origin”, which caused “serious” facial injuries to Grosso and Longo.

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Amelie Oudea-Castera, France’s sports minister, confirmed later on Sunday that seven people had been arrested in connection with the incidents. On Monday morning, interior minister Gerald Darmanin said nine people had now been arrested, while five police officers were injured.

Lyon owner John Textor had told broadcaster Amazon Prime France, shortly after the decision to cancel the match had been taken, that Grosso had sustained head injuries and was bleeding, caused by shattered glass.

Textor said Lyon did not ask to cancel the match and that decision was instead taken by the league. An official statement from the LFP (Ligue de Football Professionnel) contradicted this and Lyon then clarified that the team had initially decided they wanted to play the game, before learning the severity of Grosso and Longo’s injuries and then indicating their opposition to it going ahead.

Lyon said they “will file a complaint in the coming days and will support anyone who wishes to do the same”.

Referee Francois Letexier said in a press conference after the decision had been taken, there had been a crisis meeting, and that the LFP protocol states when a participant is injured and their participation is affected, there are grounds to abandon the match.

“During the crisis unit meeting following the incidents that occurred outside the Velodrome stadium on the route of its bus, Olympique Lyonnais made known its opposition to taking part in the meeting given the circumstances,” an LFP statement read.

“In consultation with Olympique de Marseille and the public authorities, the OM-OL meeting will therefore not be played this evening at 8:45 p.m (local time).

“It will now be up to the Competitions Commission to decide on the fate of this meeting by application of article 544 of the competition regulations.”

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Marseille released a statement later on Sunday night condemning the incident.

“Olympique de Marseille deplores the unacceptable incidents which took place this evening around the Orange Velodrome stadium, against the professional team bus as well as Olympique Lyonnais supporter buses,” it read.

“The club wishes a speedy recovery to Lyon coach Fabio Grosso and strongly condemns this violent behaviour which has no place in the world of football and in society.”

Textor gave an interview to Amazon on the pitch at the Stade Veledrome, after the match had been abandoned.

“Our team decided they would play,” Textor said. “We wanted to play. They instructed me to go and tell the league we were ready to play.

“I’m obviously proud of the players for wanting to do that. It was emotional — we have a coach who’s got blood coming out of his head.

“He’s got pieces of glass stuck in his head. He must have taken some contact to his head, there was a bit more than shattering glass because he wasn’t really lucid. I think at that point, the decision was being made independently of us.

“I think the referee had an opinion, as I understand he wanted to look at this as if it was an incident that happened within the stadium. The decision was made, independently of us, to have him (Grosso) evaluated by medical (personnel).

“I have to tell you, it’s quite a shocking scene, to see all of this. The coach is still not in good shape, he clearly could not coach. I couldn’t even have a conversation with him. He looks bandaged and he’s had a great deal of physical injury but just trying to have a conversation with him, it looked like he had a concussion.

“At that point, our team was mixed. It’s not just an emotional, physical game, it’s a tactical game and this is not the way football should be played. As the night went on, I think our team supported the decision of the referee.”

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FIFA president Gianni Infantino said: “There is absolutely no place for violence in football, on or off the pitch.

“Events such as those that took place in Marseille before the Ligue 1 match between OM and Lyon have no place in our sport nor in our society, and I call the relevant authorities to ensure that appropriate measures are taken.

“Without exception, in football, all players, coaches and supporters have to be secure to enjoy our sport.”

Lyon have struggled this season and are 18th in Ligue 1. Grosso was appointed as their head coach after they parted company with Laurent Blanc in mid-September but has been unable to turn around their poor form, overseeing two draws and three defeats in his time in charge.

Marseille have also struggled for consistency and sit ninth, with three wins, three draws and three defeats from their nine league games. Marcelino resigned seven games into his spell as head coach, citing personal reasons, and was replaced by Gennaro Gattuso last month.

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(Photo: CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP via Getty Images)