Advertisement

French clubs face disciplinary action over Europa League violence

Soccer Football - Ligue 1 - Olympique de Marseille vs Olympique Lyonnais - Orange Velodrome, Marseille, France - March 18, 2018 Marseille's Adil Rami and players clash after the match REUTERS/Philippe Laurenson (Reuters)

ZURICH (Reuters) - French clubs Olympique de Marseille and Olympique Lyonnais are facing disciplinary proceedings following crowd trouble at their Europa Leagues games last week, UEFA said on Monday.

Lyon supporters clashed with police outside their stadium - the venue for this year's Europa League final - following the home match against CSKA Moscow on Thursday and several officers were injured.

The club said in a statement that the incidents involved "a group of individuals wearing hoodies who are not part of the club's official supporters' groups".

UEFA said Lyon had been charged with crowd disturbances, the throwing and setting off of fireworks and blocked stairways. It has also charged the club with "racist behaviour" on the basis of a report by the anti-racism group FARE.

Marseille face sanctions after trouble at their game at Athletic Bilbao the same evening and they have been charged with crowd disturbances and the setting off of fireworks.

Spanish media reported that two Bilbao security guards were injured.

(Writing by Brian Homewood in Bern, editing by Ed Osmond)