Payet hit by bottle thrown from the stands in ANOTHER Ligue 1 crowd incident

The Ligue 1 clash between Lyon and Olympique Marseille was abandoned after Dimitri Payet was struck in the head by a bottle thrown from the stands just four minutes into the game.

The former West Ham midfielder was about to take a corner kick in front of the home fans at the Groupama Stadium, when he was hit by an object launched towards the pitch.

Payet immediately appeared hurt, clutching his head in his hands and taking a few gingerly steps, before falling onto the turf.

Marseille players and referee Ruddy Buquet immediately rushed over to attend to the France international, while Lyon goalkeeper Anthony Lopes remonstrated with the home fans.

Payet eventually got to his feet and was treated by Marseille's medical staff, while the referee suspended the game before eventually opting to abandon the match altogether after a suspension of almost two hours.

Lyon authorities had initially ruled the game would restart, a decision which was communicated to fans by the stadium announcer. However, the French League (LFP) immediately criticised the move in a statement.

The disagreement led to chaotic scenes, with Lyon players returning to the pitch to warm up while their opponents remained in the dressing room and the match was eventually called off.

The stadium's announcer had initially said that the game would restart, following a decision made by local Lyon authorities.

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas criticised the decision to abandon the match.

'The referee first said that the game could restart and he changed his mind after the violent reaction of Marseille, notably that of their coach,' he said.

'I believe the conditions were met to resume the game after the individual had been arrested. He is in police custody.'

His Marseille counterpart Pablo Longoria said Payet was 'psychologically affected' by the incident and explained that the club had asked Buquet to check on their players before potentially resuming the game.

'We asked him to check on our players' psychological state. He did not wish to go and see the players.'

The referee said that his 'sporting decision' was to not restart the game, but there were other elements to take into account. 'It's a full stadium, players to evacuate,' he said.

'My decision was to call off the game. We have to take our responsibilities and that's what I did tonight.'

According to LFP, Payet, who left the pitch with an ice pack on his head, was also subject to 'discriminatory insults'.

It's the second the 34-year-old has been hit by missile launched from the stands this season.

Ligue 1 has been marred by crowd trouble this season, with several incidents involving Marseille.

In August, Payet was struck by a projectile towards the end of the second half of his team's clash with fierce rivals Nice.

He reacted angrily and had to be held back by some of his teammates, but still managed to throw the bottle back into the stands.

The gesture sparked an angry reaction from Nice fans, who breached the security cordon formed by the stewards and stepped onto the pitch to confront the former Hammers man.

As furious supporters stepped onto the pitch, the referee was forced to suspend the game, while Marseille players and staff stepped in to defend Payet and a fight broke out involving players and staff from both teams, fans and stewards.

Marseille physio Pablo Fernandez was handed a one-year touchline ban for punching one of the Nice fans.

Lens, meanwhile, were ordered to play two games at home behind closed doors after crowd trouble during their match against Lille.

In September, meanwhile, Marseille and Angers fans brawled onto the pitch following a goalless draw, with rival supporters trading blows after breaching a security cordon.