PARIS: French football and national and regional authorities are in danger of losing control after a string of violent incidents at matches since the start of the season.

The very first matchday was marked by controversy when a Marseille player was hit in the mouth at Montpellier by a missile which hit him in the mouth as he was preparing to go out onto the pitch. 

Shortly before the end, the referee halted the match and sent both teams to the dressing rooms. The French federation disciplinary committee ordered the closure of two of the stands for three matches. Four people were arrested: two for throwing material and another two for threatening Marseille supporters.

Two weeks later, Marseille were involved again when a Nice fan threw a bottle at Dmitri Payet who threw it back. That response provoked a pitch invasion by some hooligans. Players, including Payet, were assaulted on the pitch.

The man fund guilty of that assault faces the possibiloty of six months in jail.

That same night Pablo Fernández, Marseille’s physical trainer, hit a Nice fan in the middle of the brawl. He was suspended until the end of the season. 

Despite the fact that the match was suspended the disciplinary committee ordered a replay on neutral territory. Nice lost two points as punishment, Álvaro González was banned for two matches and Payet for one for his misplaced response.

Last weekend at Lille, in the north-east derby against Lens, a mob of Lens fans invaded the pitch at halftime to attack home fans, whom they accused of throwing seats at them. The Lens stadium has been shut for two games.

Elsewhere the Montpellier-Bordeaux match was preceded by an attack on a bus carrying visiting fans and more fighting between fans erupted at the game between Angers and Marseille.

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