Bastia refuse to advance kick-off time of Ligue 1 match with Nantes over Corsica security fears

Police are seen during clashes with protesters in Corte on the French Mediterranean island of Corsica on February 16, 2016. French club Bastia have "categorically refused" an order by the French Professional League (LFP) to advance the kick-off time of their Ligue 1 game against Nantes on February 20 amid security fears in Corsica. (AFP)Show less

Paris // French club Bastia have “categorically refused” an order by the French Professional League (LFP) to advance the kick-off time of their Ligue 1 game against Nantes next Saturday amid security fears in Corsica.

“Having at no time been consulted on the reasons which motivated this unilateral decision and finding such practices unacceptable, the club has just informed the LFP of its categorical refusal to conform with this diktat,” Bastia said in a statement.

“The doors of the stadium will therefore remain closed at the time imposed by authorities,” it added.

According to the LFP, if Bastia carry through their threat they risk forfeiting the match 3-0. The club are 12th in the league with Nantes in sixth.

The decision to bring the game forward from 20:00 local time (11am UAE time) to 14:00 (5am) was requested by police on the French Mediterranean island after violence sparked by Corsican fans during last Saturday’s league game at Reims.

Fans threw fireworks at police before and after the match in the Champagne region with the violence spilling into the town when a 22-year-old Corsican suffered a serious eye injury while being pursued by police.

Seven Bastia supporters on Monday received summons for trial on March 22 following the incidents in Reims.

Violence also broke out in Corsica on Sunday night when a rally to support the injured fan outside Bastia’s police station degenerated with missiles and Molotov cocktails thrown. A riot police officer received a head wound.

On Monday night in Corte, some 500 people again gathered in front of the police station, throwing various missiles.

Fresh clashes erupted on Tuesday when around 50 masked individuals interrupted peaceful demonstrations by throwing Molotov cocktails at police forces, who in turn responded with tear gas to quell the trouble.

As French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve strongly condemned “these unacceptable acts” the case took a political turn with the President of Corsica’s executive council Gilles Simeoni, questioning the “official version” of the injury suffered by the Bastia supporter.

According to the Reims public prosecutor, the fan was seriously injured while fleeing police after damaging one of their cars, and hurt himself when he fell. The victim claims he was wounded by a rubber bullet, and “that’s what a certain number of witnesses are saying”, said Simeoni.

The tension comes amid unrest on the island following regional elections in mid-December which saw Corsica’s nationalist party winning power for the first time.

Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE

Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport