Montpellier were leading 4-2 in the 91st minute when the incident happened. The firecracker was thrown from the Montpellier utlras section and exploded next to Diaw. The Senegalese international was stretchered off and all players returned to the tunnel for their own safety. The match was then abandoned. 

The LFP have since announced that Montpellier will incur a two-point deduction (one suspended), whilst the game has to be replayed in full behind closed doors. In addition, the Étang de Thau stand, from where the firecracker was thrown, will be partially closed for two matches. The date for the replay has now been revealed. The match will be played in Montpellier on Wednesday 29th November at 19:00 local time. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

The France international has been involved in a mixture of team and individual training as he looks to shake off the niggle. It is not unthinkable therefore that Thuram will start from the bench. He also missed last weekend’s victory over Olympique de Marseille through suspension with Hicham Boudaoui coming into the side to replace him. 

Jordan Lotomba, who started that match against OM, withdrew with a muscular injury, and he is now set for a spell on the sidelines, alongside Sofiane Diop, who is once again unavailable for Friday night’s Ligue 1 encounter. Youcef Atal, Nice’s other option at right-back is suspended (both by the club and by the LFP) meaning that Pablo Rosario is set to fill in. 

Nice likely lineup v Clermont Foot

Marcin Bulka; Melvin Bard, Dante, Jean-Clair Todibo, Pablo Rosario; Hicham Boudaoui, Youssouf Ndayishimiye, Morgan Sanson; Jérémie Boga, Terem Moffi, Gaëtan Laborde. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

At the time of the abandonment, Montpellier were leading Clermont 4-2, but the LFP have ruled that the fixture be replayed in its entirety behind closed doors at the Stade de la Mosson. Les Héraults have also been handed a two-point (one suspended) deduction. There will also be a temporary closure of the Étang de Thau stand for the next two matches. It is from here that the firecracker, which landed at the feet of Diaw, was thrown. These sanctions take effect immediately, concluded the LFP’s communiqué.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Despite any Lyon desperation, Clermont took the lead in the opening ten minutes after Muhammed Cham was given the freedom of Lyon to head in at the back post. Shamar Nicholson was the man who created the goal with simple ease though as he teased Lovren on his way into the box before stabbing the ball to the back post for the Austrian to head home. VAR checked to see if the ball brushed the Jamaican’s arm but with no clear angle – the goal was awarded. 

OL looked completely flustered after Clermont’s opener with no real composure or control over their play, this allowed Clermont to grow in confidence. Gastien’s team cut through Lyon with ease on the counter with brilliant one-touch football but Nicholson’s final shot was tame. 

Les Gones had moments of promise and sustained possession but these moments were fleeting and lacked any form of conviction. Clermont eventually doubled their advantage with a terrific strike from Yohann Magnin which beat Lopes who was off his line. After the second goal, OL’s frustrations became evident with several pot shots from a distance. In the final five minutes, OL did ramp up their intentions of trying to find the back of the net with their best chance falling to Lacazette who hit the bar. 

Lyon made a triple change at the break in the hope of mounting a comeback. The introduction of Diawara and Nuamah certainly had a rejuvenating effect on Lyon with the opening part of the second half one-way traffic. 

Ten minutes into the second half and Lyon finally breached the Clermont goal. Tolisso whipped a corner played short into  the area looking to create a new angle and his ball into the area was flicked off the back of Ogier into the back of the net. A lifeline for Les Gones. 

Despite Lyon’s best attempts to use momentum to their advantage, these attempts were unsuccessful and Clermont grew back into the game. Baldé would have a massive to chance with 12 minutes to go to level the game but Pelmard got across decisively to block the shot with great purpose. 

Rashani got in behind and almost managed to knock the ball across to Nicholson in the area but Mata managed to make a major intervention and steer the ball away from the Jamaican. Tolisso had a glorious opportunity to head home in stoppage time from Mata’s cross, but Diaw made a terrific save to give Clermont their first victory of the season. 

Lyon player ratings: 

Anthony Lopes – 5

Clinton Mata – 5

Dejan Lovren – 4, The Croatian was beaten far too easily and never really recovered from it mentally. The 34-year-old was almost given his marching orders when he squared up to the referee following an initial booking. 

Jake O’Brien – 5

Henrique – 5

Paul Akouokou – 5

Maxence Caqueret – 7, Caqueret was the only constant in Lyon’s performance. He was all over the pitch in attacking and defensive phases of play and had a real influence despite the difficult circumstances. 

Ainsley Maitland-Niles – 5

Rayan Cherki – 5, The 20-year-old tried his best to create serious openings but was unsuccessful and failed to have a great influence on the game. He was substituted at half time. 

Alexandre Lacazette – 5

Jeffinho – 5

Others: 

Ernest Nuamah – 6

Mahamadou Diawara – 6

Corentin Tolisso – 6

Mama Baldé – 5

GFFN | Liam Wraith

L’Équipe reports that Fabio Grosso is set to start Rayan Cherki from the bench after he made comments about the French U21 international in his pre-match press conference, saying “Rayan Cherki is not a special player”. This will be the second consecutive match the 20-year-old starts from the bench.  

Mahamadou Diawara is set to keep his place in midfield after Grosso handed the 18-year-old midfielder his full professional debut against Lorient with fellow midfield partner Maxence Caqueret also set to retain his place. The one change in midfield should see Corentin Tolisso replace Skelly Alvero. 

Despite Lyon’s collapse, which saw them squander a 3-1 lead to draw 3-3 against Lorient, Grosso should stick with the same defence he used before the international break. The former Frosinone boss should also keep the same attacking trio. 

Lyon likely XI vs Clermont: 

Anthony Lopes – Clinton Mata, Jake O’Brien, Dejan Lovren, Nicolás Tagliafico – Corentin Tolisso, Mahamadou Diawara, Maxence Caqueret – Ernest Nuamah, Alexandre Lacazette, Jeffinho

GFFN | Liam Wraith

The red card came after the Ligue 1 match between Clermont Foot and Montpellier was suspended and subsequently abandoned by referee Florent Batta after a firework, which exploded next to Clermont Foot’s goalkeeper Mory Diaw (30), was thrown onto the pitch from the stands in injury time with Montpellier leading 4-2. Diaw was stretchered off the pitch and deemed unable to continue with the match by a doctor. He has since joined up with the Senegalese national team after being cleared to go on international duty by club doctors.

During the incident, the Brazilian defender Borges was shown a red card after a video replay showed him gesturing with his middle finger towards the Montpellier fans. The decision has been upheld, and he will miss the next two matches against Olympique Lyonnais (22nd October) and OGC Nice (27th October). 

GFFN | Finn Entwistle 

Clermont press charges following firecracker incident

Montpellier looked to be easing towards a 4-2 victory when a firecracker was thrown from the club’s ultras section. The firecracker landed next to Diaw and then exposed, sending the Senegalese international to the ground. The game was suspended and wasn’t resumed. Clermont have decided to press charges against the individual who committed the act. 

Diaw, however, after being stretchered off following the incident, has been deemed fit enough to join his international teammates, following medical tests on Monday. Montpellier risk heavy sanctions for the incident, and given the precedent set, are likely to receive a points deduction. The LFP disciplinary committee will meet on Wednesday, and the verdict will be given within the next fortnight. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Diaw was subsequently stretchered off the field. “Mory is shocked, I was scared for him,” said teammate Johan Gastien. The referee, in order to protect the players’ safety, took everyone on the pitch. Not long after, it was announced that the game would not resume. 

A points deduction? 

Montpellier are now waiting to know the consequences of the abandonment. The LFP disciplinary committee will meet to discuss the incident, and their decision will be known within two weeks, according to L’Équipe. Les Héraults face a points-deduction, and given the precedent set, this is a likely punishment. Following not-so-dissimilar incidents at Nice-Marseille, Lyon-Marseille (both 2021-22 season) and Bordeaux-Rodez (2022-23 season), the clubs in question were punished with a point deduction. 

Montpellier, despite leading 4-2 with just seconds remaining, could lose the match, whilst the closure of the Heidelberg stand, from which the firecracker was thrown, is also a possibility. The game could also be replayed, either in its entirety, or from the minute of the abandonment (90+2). This replay could take place behind closed doors, or at a neutral venue. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle

Clermont goalkeeper Mory Diaw, who already had a bad enough afternoon in conceding four Montpellier goals, had to be stretchered off deep in injury time. The former PSG youth product was readying himself to take a goal kick when a firecracker, presumably thrown on the pitch by Montpellier fans exploded at his feet.

https://twitter.com/DebruyneJulien2/status/1711037902291972263

Diaw then collapsed to the ground, looking dazzled and knocked out. Tempers flared and Clermont defender Neto Borges received a red card after giving the middle finger to the Stade de la Mosson from where the firecracker was thrown. Clermont players were the first to leave the pitch and the Montpellier ones quickly followed. Referee Florent Batta suspended the game. Several minutes later, Montpellier’s safety delegate definitively stopped the game.

Michel Der Zakarian’s team were 4-2 up when the incident happened. It remains to be seen whether the result will stand.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval

It was an open match between Pascal Gastien’s side and Les Parisiens, with Kylian Mbappé starting the match instead of being rested by Enrique. The France captain’s effort on the swivel turn in the 32nd minute wasn’t enough to test Clermont keeper Diaw, had continued to have ample opportunity to find the back of the net. Mbappé got on the end of crosses from Randal Kolo Muani, Ousmane Dembélé, and Achraf Hakimi, and even had a chance in additional time to take the lead.

Clermont had their own chances however, with Guinluigi Donnarumma needed on hand to save Shamar Nicholson’s and Yohann Magnin’s respective strikes in the first half before parrying away a powerful long-range effort from Konaté.

A defeat for PSG would have been harsh, but they were dominant in possession (67%) – however not managing to convert their missed chances. It is the first time in the Qatari era at PSG that after 7 matches they are goalless on two outings. Luis Enrique’s side now turn their attention to a trip to Newcastle United in the Champions League.

GFFN | George Boxall