Nice (AFP)

An investigation was opened after the incidents which led to the interruption of the Ligue 1 football match Nice-Marseille on Sunday evening, the Nice prosecutor's office told AFP on Monday.

"An investigation is underway, but there is no custody" at this stage, said the prosecution.

The Nice-Marseille match was stopped on Sunday an hour and a half, after supporters invaded the pitch following an incident that ignited the match: yet another plastic bottle thrown at Marseille player Dimitri Payet, which last returned to the rostrum.

A security cordon of stewards, dressed in yellow vests, tried to stop the supporters, but blows were exchanged in different parts of the field, in a scrimmage between players of the two teams, supporters and stewards.

Nice led 1-0, but the match did not end: after 90 minutes of procrastination, the meeting was definitively stopped when the referee noticed the absence of the Marseillais.

"The League (LFP) decided to resume the match. We decided for the safety of our players, who were attacked during the invasion of the field, not to resume because the safety of our players was not guarantee, "said OM President Pablo Longoria in a video sent to the media.

Nice wanted to resume the game.

"I know very well that the match could have resumed. I was convinced that it would go very well", declared for his part the Nice president Jean-Pierre Rivère.

© 2021 AFP