FranceLink

French government calls for football league action over Bastia violence

Disciplinary action is urged after the Corsican supporters injured 44 police with rocks and explosives at a weekend match against Marseille.

La rédaction de Mediapart

This article is freely available.

To support Mediapart subscribe

The French government has called on the country's Professional Football League (LFP) to take action after violence marred Saturday's top flight match between Bastia and Marseille, reports BBC News.

Police clashed with supporters outside the stadium both before and after the League 1 game in Corsica, with fans throwing stones and explosive devices.

A government statement said the violence left 44 policemen injured.

Marseille's Andre-Pierre Gignac scored twice as the match ended in a 3-3 draw.

Bastia were ordered to play both their derbies with Ajaccio behind closed doors  last season after violence flared on and off the pitch when the Corsican clubs met in March 2013.

The club have also previously been in trouble with the LFP after fans displayed a racist banner before a home game in 2008.

Read more of this report from BBC News.