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Marseille stadium to partially close after crowd trouble

Relegation-threatened Marseille will have to play their remaining home games this season at a partially-closed Stade Velodrome.

The French league's disciplinary commission announced on Thursday that the stands behind each goal would not be open to supporters due to crowd trouble during the 0-0 draw with Bordeaux two weeks ago.

Riot police had to be employed as some home fans angry with their side's poor form and the management of the club tried to enter the pitch. There were also further incidents after the game.

The ruling will come into effect for this Sunday's match against Nantes and also covers Marseille's final home game of the campaign against Reims on May 7.

The 2010 French champions had to cope with a similar punishment earlier this season after their 1-1 draw with Lyon in September was held up for over 20 minutes when a minority of home fans threw flares and bottles on to the pitch.

Following the Lyon game, Marseille reintroduced protective netting behind the goals and club president Vincent Labrune vowed to root out what he said were a small number of "maniacs" who had been causing problems.

Marseille are currently on a club record run of 14 home games without a win in Ligue 1.

The club sacked manager Michel earlier this week before setting up a Coupe de France meeting with Paris Saint-Germain after winning 1-0 at Sochaux in Wednesday's semifinal.

They will go into this weekend's league game against Nantes just six points above the relegation zone with four matches left in the season.

Earlier this month, Marseille owner Margarita Louis-Dreyfus said she was seeking to sell the club.