Fans attack players in France

Bastia’s home game with Lyon in French Ligue 1 was abandoned at half time after supporters of the Corsican side twice invaded the pitch and attacked the visiting players.

A hardcore section of home fans at Bastia’s Armand Cesari stadium targeted Lyon’s players as they warmed up before the game, causing it to be delayed by more than 50 minutes, and then again as the two sides went in for the break with the score at 0-0.

“We must stop, we must stop, they hit the players,” Lyon coach Bruno Genesio told club president Jean-Michel Aulas in the corridors of the stadium.
“We’re not going to war.”

Bottom-of-the-table Bastia are likely to have points deducted for the latest trouble involving their supporters.

Bastia were punished in February over racist abuse directed at Nice striker Mario Balotelli while the Nice team bus had its windows smashed.

In the first incident Lyon players fled to the dressing rooms and the 1500 GMT kick-off was consequently delayed as captains and officials from the two teams and league officials held talks over whether the game should go ahead.

Lyon’s players had been finishing their pre-game warm-up when about 50 Bastia fans — many of them dressed in black — attacked them, an AFP reporter at the scene said.

The trouble — the second time in four days that Lyon have been caught up in football violence — saw Memphis Depay reportedly among the Lyon players confronted by Bastia fans in ugly scenes.

Players complain

On Monday, three Lyon players filed police complaints after being attacked by Bastia fans.

"Anthony Lopes, Mathieu Gorgeline, Jean-Philippe Mateta filed a complaint against persons unknown for violence at a sporting venue," Bastia's public prosecutor Nicolas Bessone said.