Pictures and video on social media showed home supporters hurling a myriad of objects at the Marseille bus as it made its final approach to the stadium, including what appeared to be stones, glass and even fireworks.

As the bus pulled into the bowels of the stadium, it was clear the damage that had been caused, with multiple windows shattered and Grosso taken for emergency treatment for what appeared to be a serious cut to his head.

The match had been scheduled to kick-off at 6:45am AEDT, but was cancelled soon after that time had passed after Lyon's travelling entourage said it could not play the fixture.

French football’s governing body, Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP), confirmed after an emergency meeting that the Ligue 1 match was postponed.

Its statement read: “During the crisis unit meeting after the incidents that occurred outside Stade Velodrome on the route of its bus, Olympique Lyonnais made known its opposition to taking part in the match given the circumstances.

“In consultation with Olympique de Marseille and the public authorities, the OM-OL match will therefore not be played this evening.”

Lyon issued a statement strongly condemning the attack, adding that it had initially looked for the match to go ahead before realising the conditions of Grosso and Longo were “much more serious than expected” and because of the “mental state of the players”.

A club statement read: “At the entrance to the Stade Velodrome, several individuals violently attacked the Olympique Lyonnais bus, as well as its staff and players.

“Six buses of Olympique Lyonnais supporters were also targeted. If in the past, attacks of this type had already taken place, which Olympique Lyonnais has always regretted ... a new step towards the worst was taken.

“Several secure windows were broken by heavy projectiles of unknown nature. These same projectiles penetrated the interior of the bus.

“Coach Fabio Grosso and his assistant Raffaele Longo were directly hit and seriously injured in the face during this attack. Present with them on the bus, the players and staff were also deeply affected by the violence of this attack, which Olympique Lyonnais strongly condemns.

“Initially, as indicated by the OL representative at the start of the crisis meeting, driven by their courage, the coach and the players wanted the meeting to be able to take place.

“Subsequently, the OL representative was informed of the physical condition of Fabio Grosso and his assistant Raffaele Longo, much more serious than expected, but also of the negative medical opinions and the mental state of the players. She then announced a change in the situation, indicating the impossibility of playing the match.”

The statement added that it was “clearly impossible” for the match to take place, and that the club planned to “file a complaint in the coming days” before calling on the authorities to take action.

“Olympique Lyonnais regrets that this type of situation occurs every year in Marseille and invites the authorities to take stock of the seriousness and repetition of this type of incident before an even more serious tragedy occurs.”

Marseille issued a statement of its own, criticising the perpetrators and wishing 45-year-old Italian Grosso well.

“Olympique de Marseille deplores the unacceptable incidents which took place this evening around the Stade Velodrome, against the professional team bus as well as Olympique Lyonnais supporter buses,” it read.

“The club wishes a speedy recovery to Lyon coach Fabio Grosso and strongly condemns this violent behaviour which has no place in the world of football and in society.

“Because of a handful of mindless people, the game planned for this evening was spoiled and deprived 65,000 supporters of attending a football match.

“The club complies with the decision taken by the LFP and remains at its disposal so that the match which was scheduled for this Sunday, October 29, takes place as quickly as possible and under the best possible conditions at the Stade Velodrome.”

This latest attack comes just six weeks after Marseille's most recent coach, Marcelino, resigned in response to what he called “intimidation, threats, insults and slander” from the club's notorious fans. Former club presiden Pablo Longoria was also said to have received death threats.

Marcelino is the fourth coach to quit the club in less than three years, and indeed not the first to do so under such circumstances.

Things are arguably worse for Lyon, sitting bottom of the Ligue 1 table with no wins from its nine matches so far.

Grosso is perhaps best known to football fans Down Under for the infamous penalty he won against Australia at the 2006 FIFA World Cup which ultimately eliminated the Socceroos from that tournament in Germany.