Assistant Referee Injured by Object Thrown From Crowd During Saint-Étienne vs Lyon Match; Arrest Made

An assistant referee was struck by a projectile during Sunday’s heated Ligue 1 clash between Saint-Étienne and Lyon, prompting a significant delay and a swift police response.

The incident occurred in the 44th minute as Lyon prepared to take a throw-in. Assistant referee Mehdi Rahmouni was seen clutching his head after being hit by what is believed to have been a coin, according to French outlet L'Équipe. Lyon’s medical staff rushed to his aid, and the match was temporarily suspended for around 40 minutes as officials cleared the field.

Authorities later confirmed that a suspect had been apprehended while exiting the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium. “Following collaboration between the club and law enforcement, the individual was arrested upon leaving the venue and is currently in custody,” Saint-Étienne announced in a statement.

The club also stated it would take strong internal action: “A formal complaint will be filed tomorrow. Saint-Étienne intends to apply the most stringent measures to ensure this unacceptable act is met with appropriate consequences.”

Saint-Étienne ultimately secured a 2-1 victory, but the match will likely be remembered more for the troubling scenes in the stands than for the result on the pitch.

_{Featured Image Credit: Instagram / @asseofficiel}