Lyon deliver but racial insults mar win

Seven-time champions Lyon put daylight between themselves and the chasing pack on Sunday with a 3-1 home win over rock-bottom Le Havre which was marred by racial insults hurled at home player John Mensah.

The win, achieved courtesy of goals from Ederson and Abdelkader Keita before the break and a Juninho clincher after 74 minutes, put an end to a run of four straight draws for the reigning champions at the Stade Gerland, Loic Nestor netting a consolation for a le Havre side nine points adrift of safety.

Lyon moved on to 49 points from 24 games with Paris St Germain on 45 after their 2-1 win on Saturday over St Etienne and Bordeaux on 43.

Marseille were hoping to leapfrog Bordeaux in the late match with a win over Monaco.

Lyon officials said a spectator was arrested at the Stade Gerland following Sunday’s game for making “racist insults” in the direction of the champions’ Ghanaian defender Mensah, who was clearly affected by the issue.

His participation ended early when he was ultimately sent off after picking up two yellow cards.

The stadium speaker announced the arrest of the fan believed to have made the insults early in the second half before reminding spectators that making racial comments in a public place are an offence.

“John was very shocked,” Lyon coach Claude Puel said on French television.

Puel admitted that “I should perhaps have withdrawn John earlier (before his second booking). He heard scandalous words. We tried to keep him on the pitch and I thought he had perhaps got over it. But it’s my fault – I should have taken him off beforehand.”

Last season saw 14 arrests for similar offences at French league games, according to official figures.