Canceled this Sunday evening after the attack on the Lyonnais’ bus, the Olympico gave birth to an imbroglio involving OL boss John Textor.
“ We said we wanted to play, that we were ready for it. (…) I don’t know if it’s the referee’s decision. I don’t know who made the decision to cancel the meeting. » With these words Sunday evening on the Prime Video antenna, John Textor caused trouble while the cancellation of the match of the 10e day of L1 between OM and OL had just been announced by the Professional Football League and the referee Mr. Letexier. This after the Gones bus was stoned as it approached the VĂ©lodrome and the serious injury of Rhone coach Fabio Grosso.
“ As part of a crisis unit, all parties express themselvesdetails Mr. Letexier, who was initially to referee this Olympico. OM’s position was to refer to OL’s position. There was an awareness of the seriousness of the facts. The public authorities, including the prefect, have spoken. Concerning me, it was established that the protocol provided that when a field player was injured and could not participate in the meeting for physical or psychological reasons, the meeting should not start or resume. But the first ones who must speak out first are the clubs. Very clearly, unequivocally, OL indicated that they did not wish to participate in the meeting. Both given the state of health of the two injured people and because the players were in a state of shock. »
Textor returns to his remarks
The official insists, in order to dispel the doubt arising from the testimony of the American owner of OL: “ John Textor did not attend the crisis meeting. There is a first version which consists of saying that the information circulated poorly within the governing body of OL. A second version is to say that in the meantime, he changed his mind. » Afterward, John Textor himself was able to clarify this point in the mixed zone. “ We had an employee of ours at the crisis meeting. I forced myself to attend in vain. Initially, we didn’t ask not to play. We asked everyone’s opinion, the staff, the players, they wanted to play the match. That’s what I understood. I saw the referee immediately, and I agree with his position. We had to take into consideration what would happen in the stadium if the match was canceled. And then there was a medical evaluation to do for our coach. Players’ opinions began to change afterward. We could see that Fabio Grosso was not necessarily lucid in the locker room. »
