3 Bordeaux youth players in police custody after brawl

Bordeaux - Three youth players for French Ligue 1 outfit Bordeaux ended up in police custody and a fourth on crutches after a fight at the club's academy, multiple sources said on Friday.

The club said it was investigating a "serious incident" and called in the police after three players were alleged to have launched a violent attack on the fourth in his room at the club's Haillan training academy on Monday.

A club source told AFP the violence among the players, all 16, stemmed from an on-field verbal dispute last Saturday between an attacker and a midfielder for Bordeaux during an under-17 match against Nantes.

Bordeaux lost the match and later the attacker was joined by two team-mates who launched an assault on the midfielder in his bedroom.

The three alleged attackers were held in custody and questioned by police on Wednesday before being released ahead of a court hearing at a later date. They have been suspended by the club pending the outcome of the case.

The victim suffered a leg injury and will be unable to play for two weeks, the club added.