A French Ligue 2 match has been suspended and a player taken to hospital after a shocking attack from a pitch-invading fan in Bordeaux.
Rodez’s Lucas Buades scored for Rodez to potentially end Bordeaux’s chances of a return to the first tier, and during his celebrations an individual ran onto the pitch and pushed him over.
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Buades and a teammate collapsed on the floor, and the match was interrupted for over 30 minutes, with the goalscorer stretchered off of the pitch.
Players returned to their dressing rooms before referee Nicolas Rainville told the media that the match would not be resumed after the 22nd minute goal, and that Buades was suffering from a concussion.
According to Prime Video in France, the player was taken to hospital for treatment after the attack.
French giants Bordeaux entered the match hoping for an instant return to Ligue 1, and needed to beat Metz’s result or hope for a goal difference swing to finish in one of two promotion places.
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Buades’ opener dented those hopes, with one supporter responding disgracefully as the 25-year-old French midfielder celebrated his goal.
Rodez similarly had plenty on the line as they were fighting for survival, which a win would have given them.
In an impromptu press conference, referee Rainville told the media: “The elements are conclusive, the player cannot resume the meeting because concussed.
“We have respected the rules, namely that the match will not resume.”
With all 20 teams playing at the same time on the final matchday, Get French Football News report it is unlikely that the match will be replayed and Rodez will be rewarded a victory that confirms their Ligue 2 survival.
Rodez’s president Pierre-Olivier Murat was later asked his views and said: “We were leading 1-0… We had a good start to the match. Resume or replay the match? I have never seen matches played after the last day. I will side with the opinion of the LFP.”
Bordeaux’s president Gerard Lopez commented: “First thing, it is clear that to preserve the rights of the club and the institution, we are going to file a complaint against the individual.
“It is also clear that I would like it to be played sportingly on a field, it’s still football. We will be present in committee on Monday and we will assert all our rights, as well as on appeal if we ever have to go. Finally, the most important thing, it’s that we have 42,000 people of whom I am very proud because they left in absolute calm.”
More will follow.
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