Football
Ian Holyman, France correspondent 7y

Trials of five Bastia suspects delayed after defence counsel request

Five men charged with alleged involvement in the violence that led to Bastia's league game with Lyon being abandoned earlier this month have had their trials delayed until mid-May, Corse Matin reported.

The five, including Bastia's head of security, Anthony Agostini, had been due to be tried on Tuesday.

However, the case was put back following a request from defence counsel.

Agostini, a Bastia supporter and a steward have been bailed and banned from stadia ahead of the hearing, while two others remain in custody.

If found guilty, the five could face up to five years in prison.

Agostini was accused by Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas of punching goalkeeper Anthony Lopes, one of the plaintiffs in the case along with backup keeper Mathieu Gorgelin.

But he told RMC he had gone to see Lopes "to ask him to calm down" and claimed the Portugal international had attempted to punch him.

The flashpoint provoked an on-pitch melee as the two teams headed to the tunnel at the break, leading to the abandonment of the match.

Corse Matin reported that Agostini had made a police complaint over alleged defamation by Aulas and alleged death threats by Lopes.

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