5 to stand trial over Bastia violence

Bastia - Five men will appear in court Tuesday to stand trial over their alleged involvement in violent clashes that scarred Bastia's home match against Ligue 1 rivals Lyon on April 16.

French prosecutors said the men would be tried immediately, a day after four were arrested and placed in custody. A fifth turned himself in at the police station later on Monday.

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 abandoned as the two sides went in for the break.

Two Lyon players, Anthony Lopes and Mathieu Gorgelin, have filed police complaints after being attacked by Bastia fans during the game.

Bastia's next home game against Rennes on April 29 will be played at a neutral ground behind closed doors.

Other disciplinary measures against the club, who are already bottom of Ligue 1 and facing relegation, could follow on May 4.

The violence followed crowd trouble several days earlier at Lyon, who hosted Turkish team Besiktas in the Europa League quarter-finals.