Metz (France) (AFP) – French club Metz on Thursday opted to close the end of their stadium from where firecrackers were thrown at Lyon goalkeeper Anthony Lopes last weekend.
The measure will be kept in place “until further notice”, the Ligue 1 club said.
The Ligue 1 clash was abandoned in the 31st minute after home fans threw projectiles towards Lopes, having just seen Gauthier Hein head Metz in front at their Stade Saint-Symphorien.
The Portugal international was subsequently taken to hospital where he was diagnosed with “acoustic trauma”, although he was able to play in Lyon’s 0-0 Champions League draw with Sevilla on Wednesday.
The French league’s disciplinary committee will discuss the matter on Thursday evening although they are not expected to announce sanctions against Metz for another three weeks. They risk forfeiting the match.
“The incidents that took place last Saturday at the Stade Saint-Symphorien during the match against Lyon are inadmissable and proved that a red line had been crossed,” Metz president Bernard Serin said in a statement published on the club’s website.
“That is not what football is about and nor must it become that way. That is why I wished to take measures to avoid any chance of these events taking place again,” Serin said of the decision to close the stand behind the goal.
A 23-year-old man was still in custody on Thursday after being arrested on Wednesday in connection to the incidents. He has admitted throwing one of the firecrackers, the Metz public prosecutor said.
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