Saint-Étienne Faces Potential Sanctions Following Referee Incident in Lyon Match

AS Saint-Étienne may be subject to disciplinary action, including a possible point deduction, after an incident during their Ligue 1 match against Lyon on Sunday. The French football governing body, LFP, is set to investigate the events that unfolded during the Derby du Rhône.

The match was interrupted for over 40 minutes when an assistant referee was struck by an object thrown from the stands. This occurrence overshadowed Saint-Étienne’s first victory against their local rivals since 2019. The LFP’s disciplinary committee will convene on Wednesday to examine the situation.

Past incidents of similar nature have resulted in point deductions. For instance, Lyon faced a one-point penalty in 2021 when a spectator hit Dimitri Payet with a water bottle. The committee will also address the excessive use of flares before the match, which caused a delay in kick-off.

This incident highlights ongoing concerns about fan behavior in French football and may lead to stricter measures to ensure the safety of match officials and players.