Sixth suspect to appear in court for violence in Ligue 1

A sixth suspect in the Bastia football fan violence on the first match day of the new season's Ligue 1 was arrested by the local police Monday and appeared Tuesday afternoon in a criminal court.

The top-flight French league opening match between Bastia and Olympique Marseille, resulting in a 3-3 draw in Corsica Aug 9, was marred by violent incidents on the sidelines of the Armand Cesari stage Bastia, before and after the game, reports Xinhua.

Forty four force members were wounded and eight of them were treated for tinnitus caused by exploding firecrackers, according to hospital sources.

Four men were convicted in immediate appearance to terms of six to eight months suspended sentence for assault, while the lawsuits were then dropped against a fifth man before the sixth was arrested. Aged 20 to 39, the defendants were also sentenced to a one year stadium ban.

Fifty Bastia supporters came to court to support the defendants. The French authorities had very quickly and strongly condemned the incidents.