Lyon chief accuses St Etienne keeper of attack

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas accused Saint-Etienne goalkeeper Stephane Ruffier of hitting him in the back at the end of an explosive French Ligue 1 derby on Sunday.Lyon won the match, the 107th Rhone clash between the two sides, 2-1 thanks to an injury time winner from Jimmy Briand but the game was overshadowed by a series of unsavoury incidents."Stephane Ruffier hit me violently in the back at the end of the match," Aulas told French TV."One of our medical staff made a remark on the way to the changing rooms. Fabrice Grange, who is a former Lyon man, saw fit to clash with our doctor," claimed Aulas."When I tried to separate them, Stephane Ruffier dealt me a blow in the back."The atmosphere at the Geoffroy-Guichard ground was already tense before kick-off.Lyon's goalkeeper coach Joel Bats tied a Lyon scarf to one of the goals which riled Saint-Etienne fans, some of whom spilled onto the pitch."Joel was right to do that," insisted Aulas who believed it was correct following a ban on Lyon supporters travelling to the game."We should have tied a black armband," he added.

Source: AFP