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Soccer chief says keeper attacked him

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 soccer 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.

Meanwhile, Andre-Pierre Gignac scored a late penalty as Marseille beat strugglers Sochaux 2-1 for their first win in eight games.

Gignac struck his spot-kick firmly down the middle in the 83rd minute for his fifth league goal of the season, handing Marseille their first win since September 28 after six defeats and one draw in the previous seven games.

Marseille, who have lost all four of their matches in the Champions League this season, is in fifth place with 21 points, two points behind fourth-place Nantes, who won 3-0 at Bordeaux earlier on Sunday.

Paris Saint-Germain remains unbeaten and has a four-point lead over second-place Lille, and leads Monaco by five.

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