The LFP strongly condemns the violent aggression that Dimitri Payet was a victim of during Olympique Lyonnais – Olympique de Marseille. Following this cowardly attack, Dimitri Payet was also the victim of insults of a discriminatory nature.
Despite the firmness of the decisions of the LFP’s Disciplinary Commission since the start of the season (points deductions, matches behind closed doors, stands closed) and the work put in with the government in order to sanction more effectively violent individuals in the stadiums, these new serious incidents act as a reminder that the security of matches is the responsibility of the host club and local authorities, to whom the final decision falls as to whether a match will restart or be definitively stopped.
The LFP regrets in these conditions the decision to restart the Olympique Lyonnais – Olympique de Marseille game taken by the regional Prefect, as was already the case for AS Saint-Etienne – Angers SCO.
At a time when Ligue 1 Uber Eats is becoming increasingly attractive on the pitches, these serious and repeated incidents are destroying the image of the league in France and internationally.
After these new and extremely serious incidents, the LFP’s Disciplinary Commission will hold an emergency meeting on Monday.
