A football supporter in France was arrested after allegedly throwing an object onto the pitch which struck an assistant referee.
Saint-Etienne confirmed in a club statement that an individual was arrested upon leaving their Stade Geoffroy-Guichard following Sunday’s 2-1 Ligue 1 win over rivals Lyon.
Saint-Etienne added that they will file a complaint against the individual on Monday.
The incident happened just before half-time and RMC reported that the game was suspended for nearly 45 minutes.
“The club will also act with the utmost firmness, taking the most severe sanctions on its part, to ensure that this isolated act does not go unpunished,” the Saint-Etienne statement said.
“AS Saint-Etienne reiterates its total commitment to the fight against all forms of violence and will continue to act resolutely with all stakeholders to enable the most effective measures to be taken against the perpetrators of this type of act.”
Lucas Stassin put Saint-Etienne 1-0 up early in the first half, then doubling the home side’s lead on 66 minutes before Tanner Tessman pulled one back for Lyon 10 minutes later.
The result saw 17th-placed Saint-Etienne draw level on points with Le Havre, who occupy the relegation play-off spot in 16th, and move three points behind 15th-placed Angers. Lyon remain sixth, level on points with fifth-placed Nice and seventh-placed Strasbourg.
(Jean-Philippe Ksiazek/AFP via Getty Images)