Dimitri Payet is hit by water bottle thrown from the stands in ANOTHER Ligue 1 crowd incident as Lyon's clash with Marseille is called off after grim scenes
- Former West Ham player struck by water bottle at Groupama Stadium
- Ligue 1 clash was only four minutes in when referee was forced to suspend game
- Payet clutched his head in pain before falling onto the turf after being hit
- Marseille midfielder was hit by water bottle during game against Nice in August
- Several Ligue 1 games have been marred by crowd trouble this season
The Ligue 1 clash between Lyon and Olympique Marseille was abandoned after Dimitri Payet was struck in the head by a bottle thrown from the stands just four minutes into the game.
The former West Ham midfielder was about to take a corner kick in front of the home fans at the Groupama Stadium, when he was hit by an object launched towards the pitch.
Payet immediately appeared hurt, clutching his head in his hands and taking a few gingerly steps, before falling onto the turf.
![The fan who threw a bottle at Dimitri Payet's head during the Ligue 1 clash between Lyon and Olympique Marseille on Sunday has been sentenced to a suspended six-month jail term](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/11/21/20/50787425-0-image-a-38_1637526557732.jpg)
Marseille midfielder Dimitri Payet was hit in the head by a water bottle thrown by Lyon fans
Marseille players and referee Ruddy Buquet immediately rushed over to attend to the France international, while Lyon goalkeeper Anthony Lopes remonstrated with the home fans.
Payet eventually got to his feet and was treated by Marseille's medical staff, while the referee suspended the game before eventually opting to abandon the match altogether after a suspension of almost two hours.
Lyon authorities had initially ruled the game would restart, a decision which was communicated to fans by the stadium announcer. However, the French League (LFP) immediately criticised the move in a statement.
![Payet - who was about to take a corner kick in front of the home fans at the Groupama Stadium - was struck in the head by a bottle thrown from the stands just four minutes into the game](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/11/21/20/50787421-10227677-image-a-50_1637527078469.jpg)
Payet was about to take a corner in front of the Lyon fans when he was struck by a projectile
![The guilty culprit could also be banned from the Groupama Stadium (above) for five years](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/11/21/20/50787423-10227677-image-a-51_1637527081947.jpg)
The 34-year-old immediately clutched his head in pain after being struck by the bottle
![The game was initially suspended by referee Ruddy Buquet while Payet received treatment](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/11/21/20/50787417-10227677-image-a-53_1637527091754.jpg)
Payet fell to the turf in agony, before being attended to by his teammates and the medical staff
The disagreement led to chaotic scenes, with Lyon players returning to the pitch to warm up while their opponents remained in the dressing room and the match was eventually called off.
The stadium's announcer had initially said that the game would restart, following a decision made by local Lyon authorities.
Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas criticised the decision to abandon the match.
'The referee first said that the game could restart and he changed his mind after the violent reaction of Marseille, notably that of their coach,' he said.
![However, Buquet decided to abandon the match altogether after a pause of almost two hours](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/11/21/23/50787879-10227677-The_referee_suspended_the_game_after_Payet_was_struck_on_the_hea-a-39_1637537858597.jpg)
The referee suspended the game after Payet was struck on the head by a water bottle
'I believe the conditions were met to resume the game after the individual had been arrested. He is in police custody.'
His Marseille counterpart Pablo Longoria said Payet was 'psychologically affected' by the incident and explained that the club had asked Buquet to check on their players before potentially resuming the game.
'We asked him to check on our players' psychological state. He did not wish to go and see the players.'
The referee said that his 'sporting decision' was to not restart the game, but there were other elements to take into account. 'It's a full stadium, players to evacuate,' he said.
![Marseille players walked off the pitch after the referee suspended the game in the first half](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/11/21/20/50787883-10227677-image-a-55_1637527648417.jpg)
Marseille players walked off the pitch after the referee suspended the game in the first half
'My decision was to call off the game. We have to take our responsibilities and that's what I did tonight.'
According to LFP, Payet, who left the pitch with an ice pack on his head, was also subject to 'discriminatory insults'.
It's the second the 34-year-old has been hit by missile launched from the stands this season.
Ligue 1 has been marred by crowd trouble this season, with several incidents involving Marseille.
![Lyon players followed suit but returned to the pitch to warm up later on as they expected the match to restart after a lengthy delay](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/11/21/23/50794147-10227677-image-a-40_1637538405091.jpg)
Lyon players followed suit but returned to the pitch to warm up later on as they expected the match to restart after a lengthy delay
In August, Payet was struck by a projectile towards the end of the second half of his team's clash with fierce rivals Nice.
He reacted angrily and had to be held back by some of his teammates, but still managed to throw the bottle back into the stands.
The gesture sparked an angry reaction from Nice fans, who breached the security cordon formed by the stewards and stepped onto the pitch to confront the former Hammers man.
![Ligue 1 have announced that Lyon will have to play their Ligue 1 games behind closed doors](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/11/21/23/50794145-10227677-image-a-41_1637538473157.jpg)
Ultimately, however, the game was called off and fans had to leave the Groupama Stadium
As furious supporters stepped onto the pitch, the referee was forced to suspend the game, while Marseille players and staff stepped in to defend Payet and a fight broke out involving players and staff from both teams, fans and stewards.
Marseille physio Pablo Fernandez was handed a one-year touchline ban for punching one of the Nice fans.
Lens, meanwhile, were ordered to play two games at home behind closed doors after crowd trouble during their match against Lille.
In September, meanwhile, Marseille and Angers fans brawled onto the pitch following a goalless draw, with rival supporters trading blows after breaching a security cordon.
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