Mason Greenwood was reportedly targeted with missiles after he scored against Nice in a feisty Riviera derby clash on Friday night.
Greenwood netted twice as Marseille thrashed their rivals 5-1 to go top of Ligue 1 and continue their impressive start to the season.
But the game hit a flashpoint after Greenwood scored his first goal to put Roberto De Zerbi’s side 2-0 up in the first half.
As he wheeled away to celebrate, the 24-year-old appeared to taunt the Nice fans as he stuck his tongue out in their direction and stopped in front of the ultras section.
Several Nice supporters then threw objects towards the former Man United man, according to GFFN, leading to referee Jeremy Pignard temporarily halting the game.
Greenwood’s Marseille team-mate Emerson Palmieri, the left back previously of West Ham and Chelsea, was reportedly hit by a lighter.
Mason Greenwood was reportedly targeted by missiles after taunting Nice fans on Friday night
Greenwood (R) scored twice but appeared to celebrate his first in front of the home fans, with Emerson Palmieri (C) then hit by a lighter (above – Marseille’s players celebrate at full-time)
In among the drama, a scuffle then broke out on the touchline between both sets of players and coaching staff.
It was sparked after several Nice players believed a foul should have been given in the build-up to Greenwood’s goal and protested their case to the referee.
They felt Man City loanee Juma Bah was impeded at the other end, before Greenwood’s effort went in via a deflection.
The melee, which was also said to be fuelled by the celebrations for the goal, spilled onto the pitch and even De Zerbi was involved as referee Pignard tried to restore order by blowing his whistle.
After things calmed down, Greenwood added a second, before Timothy Weah made it 4-0.
Nice, who are owned by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, pulled a goal back through Mohamed-Ali Cho, but Igor Paixao completed the thumping victory as he added a fifth late on.
Greenwood’s brace saw him go to the top of the Ligue 1 scoring charts, with the forward having now netted 10 goals and added three assists in just 12 games.
He signed for Marseille in the summer of 2024 for a fee worth £27million, plus £3.2m in add-ons, after his 17-year association with United came to an end.
Coaches and players from both teams clashed in the aftermath of Greenwood’s first goal
That came after he was charged with attempted rape, assault and controlling and coercive behaviour in October 2022, but the charges and case were dropped in February 2023 when key witnesses withdrew. Greenwood has always denied any wrongdoing.
The Red Devils then decided Greenwood would not be integrated back into the first team in the summer of 2023 after an internal investigation took place and sent him on loan to Getafe for the 2023-24 season, before his permanent move to Marseille.
Greenwood is set to come up against English opposition when Newcastle visit Marseille in the Champions League on Wednesday.
The last time Greenwood faced a Premier League side came in August when Marseille took on Aston Villa in a pre-season friendly.
Back then, Greenwood clashed with Tyrone Mings as tempers flared, with the Villa centre back stepping in after the 24-year-old had an altercation with Amadou Onana off the ball.
As Greenwood appeared to laugh at Onana, Mings quickly grabbed the forward and ended up ripping his shirt.
