A match between Nice and Marseille was abandoned on Sunday (August 22) after fans invaded the pitch and a mass brawl broke out, involving players and staff.
The pitch invasion took place whilst Nice was leading 1-0 thanks to Kasper Dolberg’s second half strike.
Members of the crowd had pelted Marseille players with objects in the lead-up to the chaotic fight. It was just a matter of time before someone was severely struck.
Unfortunately, this happened as Marseille’s Dimitri Payet went over to take a corner kick in the 74th minute.
A bottle struck him on the back of the neck. After falling to the ground, the Frenchman stood up and launched a bottle back at the fans. He picked up another bottle and launched that as well.
Here’s what happened to #Payet.
Can understand why the Marseille players are upset…pic.twitter.com/6xz35uOcSN
— Robin Bairner (@RBairner) August 22, 2021
Payet’s teammates Alvaro Gonzalez and Matteo Guendouzi ran to support him. At the same time, Nice captain Dante attempted to calm the escalating tension.
Soon after, fans invaded the pitch, dropping a billboard to access the field in order to battle with the Marseille players. This was despite efforts made by security staff to hold back fans in the section of the stadium where the corner was to have been taken.
This led to the ugly scenes that have been making the headline, with many Nice supporters storming the pitch as players and fans clashed.
The incident that caused the suspension of the Nice vs Marseille game.#OM#Ligue1UberEatspic.twitter.com/K1vUwOoCbC
— Matthew Bauer (@mattbauer__5) August 22, 2021
The referee eventually suspended the match and took both sets of players off the pitch for their own safety.
After a delay of more than an hour, match officials attempted to restart the game, but the Marseille team refused to return to the pitch, citing security concerns.
The referee restarted the match in the absence of the Marseille team before blowing for full-time. According to the rules, Nice will now be awarded a 3-0 victory.
Huge ramifications are expected
It is widely accepted in the French press that Marseille will challenge the Ligue de Football Professionnel [LFP] on their ruling of a default 3-0 win for their opponents, with the club’s president insisting the safety of their players ‘could not be guaranteed’.
It is also claimed Nice could see stadium closures as a result of their fans’ behaviour, or games played at neutral venues, as well as a heavy fine or even a points deduction.
The players involved in the scraps, including Payet for throwing a bottle back into the crowd, may also face punishment.
It is not the first time a game in Ligue 1 has been suspended this season because of fans throwing projectiles onto the pitch.
Montpellier vs Marseille was halted in the opening round of fixtures this season with Marseille sub Valentin Rongier struck in the face by a bottle.