Ligue 1 opening weekend beset by violence
Clashes broke out after a football match in Corsica on Saturday night that left 44 French riot and paramilitary police officers injured, the interior ministry said Sunday.
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The French ministry said in a statement that 10 members of the CRS riot police (Republican Security Companies) and 34 gendarmes were “injured or bruised” when violence erupted before and after the Bastia-Marseille match on the island of Corsica.
AFP reported that a source close to the incident said that Bastia team supporters attacked police officers outside of the stadium and hurled stones and explosive devices.
Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve called for "an end to this violent behaviour, especially towards security forces who must be respected."
Frederic Thiriez, president of LFP, also condemned the violence and said “further restrictive measures” must be put in place.
"I condemn in the strongest terms the unacceptable violence surrounding last night's meeting, which was held in Bastia, causing many casualties among the security forces," said Thiriez in a statement.
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