Fan Attack Leads to Bordeaux-Rodez Abandonment

Bordeaux’s hopes of promotion from Ligue 2 were put in doubt after their final match of the season was abandoned due to a fan attacking Rodez player Lucas Buades. The midfielder had just given Rodez a 22nd-minute lead when he was pushed over by a pitch-invader, and was taken off on a stretcher after suffering a concussion. Bordeaux needed to better Metz’s result in order to win promotion, while Rodez needed a victory to stay up. Unfortunately for Bordeaux, Metz beat Bastia 3-2 to move into the second promotion spot behind champions Le Havre, meaning Bordeaux would have to beat Rodez by four goals to go up on goal difference. Rodez were on course for the win that would have seen them stay up as Annecy lost 1-0 at FC Paris. Referee Nicolas Rainville declared that the match would not resume due to the player’s concussion, and the disciplinary committee of French football’s governing body will meet on Monday to decide what action to take. Bordeaux president Gerard Lopez expressed his desire to see the situation resolved in a sporting manner, and said that they would assert all their rights at the committee meeting and appeal if necessary. Rodez chairman Pierre-Olivier Murat commented that he had never seen matches played after the last day.