Fan Arrested after Official Hit with Object in Ligue 1 Game

French referee Mehdi Rahmoun (C) looks on during the French L1 football match between AS Saint-Etienne and Olympique Lyonnais (OL) after the match was suspended at the Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium in Saint-Etienne, central France on April 20, 2025. (AFP)
French referee Mehdi Rahmoun (C) looks on during the French L1 football match between AS Saint-Etienne and Olympique Lyonnais (OL) after the match was suspended at the Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium in Saint-Etienne, central France on April 20, 2025. (AFP)
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Fan Arrested after Official Hit with Object in Ligue 1 Game

French referee Mehdi Rahmoun (C) looks on during the French L1 football match between AS Saint-Etienne and Olympique Lyonnais (OL) after the match was suspended at the Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium in Saint-Etienne, central France on April 20, 2025. (AFP)
French referee Mehdi Rahmoun (C) looks on during the French L1 football match between AS Saint-Etienne and Olympique Lyonnais (OL) after the match was suspended at the Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium in Saint-Etienne, central France on April 20, 2025. (AFP)

A man has been arrested after an assistant referee was hit by an object thrown from the stands during Saint-Etienne's 2-1 win over Olympique Lyonnais in Ligue 1 on Sunday.

Lyon were about to take a throw-in in the 44th minute when the official was shown holding a hand to his head after being hit by what appeared to be a coin, L'Equipe reported.

Lyon's medical team attended to the assistant referee before the players and officials left the pitch.

The game was interrupted for about 40 minutes.

"Based on information provided by the club and in collaboration with the authorities, the individual was arrested as he left the stadium and is now in police custody," hosts Saint-Etienne said in a statement.

"Saint-Etienne will file a formal complaint against him tomorrow. The club will also act with the utmost severity, imposing its own strictest sanctions to ensure this isolated act does not go unpunished."



Sinner Seeks to Put Disappointment of French Open Defeat Behind Him

Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - June 8, 2025 Italy's Jannik Sinner with the runner up trophy after losing the men's singles final against Spain's Carlos Alcaraz. (Reuters)
Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - June 8, 2025 Italy's Jannik Sinner with the runner up trophy after losing the men's singles final against Spain's Carlos Alcaraz. (Reuters)
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Sinner Seeks to Put Disappointment of French Open Defeat Behind Him

Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - June 8, 2025 Italy's Jannik Sinner with the runner up trophy after losing the men's singles final against Spain's Carlos Alcaraz. (Reuters)
Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - June 8, 2025 Italy's Jannik Sinner with the runner up trophy after losing the men's singles final against Spain's Carlos Alcaraz. (Reuters)

World number one Jannik Sinner wants to use the Halle Open as a chance to bounce back from sleepless nights after his agonizing loss to rival Carlos Alcaraz in the French Open final this month.

In a thrilling showdown, Sinner took the first two sets and had three match points in the fourth set, but Spaniard Alcaraz persevered to grind out a 4-6 6-7(4) 6-4 7-6(3) 7-6(10-2) win in five hours and 29 minutes - the longest final at Roland Garros.

Asked if he had thought about the championship points he failed to convert, Sinner told reporters on Saturday: "Often. It happens. I don't know how it will look in the future.

"I think that it is not the most important thing, but I nevertheless try to forget the negative things and see what I can do here" in Halle.

"I think that for me to play another tournament is positive, because every match is a new beginning, and I must be mentally ready to give my all on the court. Therefore, it is great I can be here in Halle. Yes, I had already a few sleepless nights, but I think every day it gets better."

The 23-year-old Italian is the reigning champion at Halle and will seek to defend his crown at the tournament, which starts on Monday, as he gears up for Wimbledon, which will be held from June 30 to July 13 at the All England Lawn Tennis Club.

"The first practice session was OK. I hadn´t played since Paris, so my general feelings on the court were not so perfect," Sinner said.

"I think a good grass-court player can move well. The ball can bounce a bit funny because of the grass, and you have to serve intelligently.

"But in general, it is a surface on which I took a step forward last year and we will see how it goes this year."