Saint-Étienne, France – A fierce Ligue 1 derby between local rivals Saint-Étienne and Lyon was thrown into chaos on Sunday after an assistant referee was struck by an object thrown from the stands. The controversial incident occurred just before halftime, with Saint-Étienne leading 1-0 thanks to Lucas Stassin’s goal.
During the 44th minute, assistant referee Mehdi Rahmouni was hit in the head by what reports indicated was a coin. Medical staff treated him on the pitch before referee François Letexier decided to suspend play and escort both teams off the field.
In a statement to AFP, Ligue 1 matchday representative Noel Mannino confirmed that the game would resume after a 40-minute delay, stating, “We’re going to restart the game because the assistant referee feels up to restarting. At the next incident, the match will be stopped for good.”
Lyon fans were banned from attending the match due to previous disturbances while Saint-Étienne had faced threats of stadium closures owing to past incidents involving flares and verbal abuse from their supporters.
The match eventually resumed, and when both teams returned to the field, they were met with a blend of cheers and boos from the crowd. Shortly after play resumed, Stassin scored again in the 67th minute, putting Saint-Étienne up 2-0. Despite Lyon’s Tanner Tessmann scoring in the 76th minute, the final score remained 2-1 in favor of Saint-Étienne.
Both teams have had a tumultuous season with Saint-Étienne struggling to avoid relegation while Lyon aimed to secure a top-four finish. This match was especially crucial for the hosts, looking to climb the table from their precarious position.
Saint-Étienne has not played in Ligue 1 since last season after spending time in the second tier. The rivalry between the two clubs is long-standing, with incidents like this further amplifying the tension between fans. Previous matches have seen dramatic moments, and this latest incident will surely be a topic of discussion in the days following the game.
