In images posted online by Canal +, the aftermath of the game showed heated exchanges, and Aulas stated, “There were a few exchanges of blows. I tried to separate some of them and I took a bad hit.” He further narrated an incident involving Fabrice Grange, a former Lyon player, who allegedly attempted to hit the Lyon team doctor. Aulas claimed that, while intervening, Stéphane Ruffier, the Saint-Etienne goalkeeper, struck him hard in the back.
However, Ruffier vehemently denied this version of events, stating, “I did not punch him, even less from behind. I just pushed him away, yes. But it’s all Jean-Michel Aulas. He’s a liar.” Ruffier expressed disbelief at the idea of hitting an opponent, especially a sixty-year-old man, asserting it goes against his upbringing.
Aulas stood by his account, stating, “I put myself in the middle and my concern was not making the punch. I am not in the same category as Ruffier. He came and pushed my back against the wall.” Aulas claimed to have a “large hematoma” as a result of the incident. The conflicting narratives add a layer of intrigue to the already intense rivalry between Lyon and Saint-Etienne.
