Marseille‘s home game against Rennes was abandoned just three hours before it was billed to kick-off on Saturday after angry Marseille fans marched to the club’s training complex to protest against poor results.
Videos posted by local newspaper La Provence and pictures circulating on social media showed trees burning outside the entrance to La Commanderie with fans throwing flares and trying to force their way in.
Sports daily L’Equipe’s website also reported that Marseille’s players were present at the time, and that defender Alvaro Gonzalez was hit on the back by a projectile when he went to speak with supporters. No further details were given.
The League issued a statement on Saturday saying no new date has been set for the match, but Marseille’s next home game will fall under close scrutiny since it is against bitter rivals Paris Saint-Germain next weekend.
“Olympique de Marseille strongly condemns the unacceptable attack suffered by the club in the middle of the afternoon inside the Robert-Louis Dreyfus training centre,” a Marseille club statement read.
“Despite the intervention of the police, an unjustifiable outbreak of violence endangered the lives of those present on site. Thefts were committed and vehicles were damaged. Five trees were burned with the sole desire to destroy. The damage inside the buildings amounts to several hundreds of thousands of euros.
“These irresponsible and unacceptable actions must be condemned with the utmost severity. Olympique de Marseille has all the evidence, and this was immediately forwarded to investigators.”
