Saint-Etienne fan arrested after projectile thrown at assistant referee
A Saint-Etienne supporter is in custody after being arrested following his team's match against Lyon on Sunday, which was interrupted after a projectile was thrown at an assistant referee, according to police and judicial sources.
The Ligue 1 game, which Saint-Etienne won 2-1, was paused for 45 minutes after a coin was thrown at the head of the official.
The 28-year-old man was arrested by police inside the Stade Geoffrey-Guichard at the end of the match, sources said Monday.
His questioning in police custody is part of the investigation opened for "violence within a sports venue" and aims to determine whether he was the perpetrator of the coin throw, Yves Cellier, a director of the Loire police, told AFP.
Aurelien Buffart, deputy prosecutor of Saint-Etienne, said the supporter had been "formally identified" by video surveillance cameras.
Buffart also said police had discovered several coins on the ground near where the assistant was struck.
HEADLINES
- 'He blew it': Cassidy irked after ref's non-call precedes Oilers' OT winner
- Have the Maple Leafs actually figured this whole playoffs thing out? Maybe
- The Devers dilemma: Selling an unwilling star on the inevitable
- Tatum: 'I need to be better' vs. Knicks
- MLB Roundatble: Best AL/NL team, who is underachieving most?