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Man City's Benjamin Mendy urges Marseille fans to end Lyon threats

Manchester City defender Benjamin Mendy urged supporters of his former club Marseille to behave during the Europa League final, which will be held at the home of rivals Lyon.

Marca reported that Mendy, who played three seasons for Marseille before moving to Monaco in summer 2016, allegedly chanted threats in a video posted on social media that his former club's supporters would "break everything" at the Groupama Stadium during the game against Atletico Madrid on May 16.

Lyon released a statement on Friday that they had filed a legal complaint against Marseille for incitement to criminal damage, fearing an outbreak of violence at the stadium, and mentioned that "a French international playing in England," whom they did not name, encouraged "irresponsible" fan behaviour.

Mendy, who had earlier asked Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas about obtaining two tickets to the game, later backed down from the claim made in the video, writing on Twitter that Marseille fans should show respect for their hosts.

"On a more serious note, we have teased OL for years," Mendy wrote. "When we meet there are always chants and tifos, etc., that do that and they have their own. This rivalry is no greater than it usually is."

He added: "As I told Adil [Rami] recently, I hope that OM will destroy everything in a sporting sense. I implore all fans going to the match to remain respectful of the stadium that will host them. Enjoy the final, everybody!"

Tensions between supporters of the two clubs, who are fighting for a spot in the Champions League next season, are at their highest level in years, with some Marseille fans making threats of violence against Lyon on social media platforms in recent days.

Players from both teams clashed during a league game at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille in March after Memphis Depay scored in the final minute to give Lyon a 3-2 win. Rami and Lyon goalkeeper Anthony Lopes each received three-game bans following the incidents.

That game occurred three days after an outbreak of violence during the second leg of Marseille's Europa League quarterfinal against Athletic Bilbao. Three Marseille fans were detained by police after a security officer was stabbed in the neck by a sharp object, and others took flares into the Estadio San Mimes and threw them at home supporters.

Information from ESPN FC PSG correspondent Jonathan Johnson and the Associated Press was used in this report.

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