Mason Greenwood found himself at the centre of a fiery Riviera derby clash on Friday night, scoring a brace for Marseille but also becoming a target for missile-throwing Nice supporters. The incident marred an otherwise spectacular 5-1 victory that sent Marseille to the top of Ligue 1.
Dramatic Goal Celebration Sparks Chaos
The match reached a flashpoint after Greenwood netted his first goal, putting Roberto De Zerbi's side 2-0 up in the first half. As the 24-year-old wheeled away to celebrate, he appeared to taunt the home fans by sticking his tongue out and stopping directly in front of the ultras section.
This provocative act prompted a furious reaction. According to reports from GFFN, several Nice supporters began hurling objects towards the former Manchester United forward. The situation escalated to the point where referee Jeremy Pignard was forced to temporarily halt the game.
The chaos was not confined to the stands. Marseille defender Emerson Palmieri, the former West Ham and Chelsea left-back, was reportedly struck by a lighter during the celebrations.
Touchline Melee Erupts
In the ensuing drama, a scuffle broke out on the touchline involving players and coaching staff from both teams. The altercation was reportedly sparked by Nice players who believed a foul should have been given in the build-up to Greenwood's opening goal.
They contended that Manchester City loanee Juma Bah was impeded at the other end of the pitch just before Greenwood's deflected effort found the net. The melee, fuelled by the contentious goal and the subsequent celebrations, spilled onto the pitch, with even manager De Zerbi becoming involved as the referee attempted to restore order.
Greenwood Seals Impressive Victory
After order was restored, the match resumed, and Greenwood's quality shone through once more. The forward added a second goal to his tally, further cementing Marseille's dominance. Timothy Weah extended the lead to 4-0 before Nice, owned by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, managed a consolation goal through Mohamed-Ali Cho.
Igor Paixao completed the thumping 5-1 victory with a late fifth goal for the visitors. With his two goals, Greenwood moved to the top of the Ligue 1 scoring charts, having now netted 10 goals and provided three assists in just 12 appearances this season.
The English forward signed for Marseille in the summer of 2024 for a fee of £27 million, plus £3.2 million in add-ons, after his 17-year association with Manchester United came to an end. This followed a period where he was charged with attempted rape, assault, and controlling and coercive behaviour in October 2022. The case was dropped in February 2023 after key witnesses withdrew, with Greenwood having always denied any wrongdoing.
Greenwood is now set to face English opposition when Newcastle United visit Marseille for a Champions League fixture on Wednesday.
