Lyon returns to Marseille amid heightened security following violent attack on team bus

Lyon will return to Marseille amid heightened security measures Wednesday to play a game that was postponed after team's bus was attacked by fans throwing rocks in October.

rescheduled match comes just four days after death of a fan ahe of a French league game that marked a new low in a season marred by violence.

match between Marseille and Lyon was initially scheduled on Oct. 29 but was postponed after fans threw rocks and or projectiles at Lyon bus and n-coach Fabio Grosso needed stitches in his forehe after being hit by broken glass.

Lyon fans have not been allowed to travel to rescheduled game, which takes place in wake of incident in western city of Nantes, where a fan was killed during a fight close to stium before a game between Nantes and Nice.

match in Marseille will be under close scrutiny, with local authorities under pressure to deliver an effective security plan.

On Monday, French sports minister Amelie Oudea-Castera called for “a global and extraordinarily determined response” to an upsurge of violence in French soccer that culminated with fan's death.

“It’s just not possible that police forces are so overstretched, that private property is destroyed, that buses are stoned and people injured,” Oudea-Castera said. “And now, a death. That’s enough.”

Back in October in Marseille, Lyon team bus was hit on way to Ste Velodrome, shattering some windows. Grosso was injured by falling shards of glass and needed medical treatment with his face bleeding heavily. Lyon assistant coach Raffaele Longo was also injured.

Supporters were also targeted, five police officers were injured, and nine people placed in custody. Grosso suffered a deep cut above his left eye that required stitches and a large bandage wrapped around his he.

Following a string of disappointing results, Grosso was fired last week and replaced by interim coach Pierre Sage.

“We’re waiting for transport to be secured so that players can tackle match in best possible way,” Sage said.

According to local Lyon newspaper Le Progres, players and staff will leave for Marseille on Wednesday morning and will stay in a hotel that has been booked in consultation with local Marseille authorities, furr away from Ste Velodrome than one picked by Lyon in October.

Once in Marseille, team won’t be using its usual bus bearing club’s colors. Lyon will inste use an unmarked bus belonging to a local transport company, fitted with reinforced windows. team will n be heavily escorted to stium.

Because October incidents took place outside Ste Velodrome, Marseille has escaped disciplinary sanctions from French league.

“ situation is a bit delicate," said Lyon right-back Clinton Mata. “We didn’t think we’d have to play this match again as if nothing h happened. It’s a strange feeling, but we’re professional players. After what happened, we’re a bit worried.”

In dition to attack on bus, racist incidents also took place before match between Marseille and Lyon. As fans from both teams remained in stium and exchanged insults as y waited for game to kick off, some fans from Lyon were filmed making Nazi gestures and mimicking monkeys.

Both Marseille and Lyon, two tritionally successful French clubs, have failed to meet expectations this season. Marseille sits ninth in standings, 16 points behind league leer Paris Saint-Germain. situation is even worse for Lyon, which is bottom of league with just one win in 13 matches.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer