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Lyon have strongly condemned the alleged "shameful acts" that have led UEFA to open an investigation into the club and could see the Ligue 1 side banned from Europe. Eight police officers were injured and three arrests were made as trouble flared between Lyon fans and law and order forces ahead the club's Europa League round-of-16 second leg with CSKA Moscow. UEFA's Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) announced on Monday it was opening an investigation into the incidents after charging Lyon with racist behaviour, crowd disturbances, setting off fireworks and blocking stairways, and announced the case will be dealt with on May 31. RMC reported anti-racism group FARE (Football Against Racism in Europe) had been mandated by UEFA to attend the game incognito to assess fan behaviour, and reported they had seen home supporters making Nazi salutes. Lyon have a two-year suspended ban from European competition hanging over them following severe disturbances ahead of their Europa League quarterfinal with Besiktas last April, and UEFA could now enforce that when they deal with the matter on May 31. "While waiting to study the documents supplied by UEFA, the club already condemns the shameful acts coming from a few isolated individuals," a statement on the club's website read. "Conforming to its philosophy, Olympique Lyonnais will commit to all possible legal recourse against people behaving in such a way. "In that regard, it points out it has already taken the decision to definitively forbid access to the Groupama Stadium to the fan arrested on Thursday evening for having punched law and order representatives in the public thoroughfare, outside the perimeter of the club's responsibility."
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