The island’s only top-flight team are mired in fan violence, underinvestment and poor results, and their ultras are heavily culpable for the toxic atmosphere
Official retribution for the ugly scenes that led to the abandonment of Sporting Club de Bastia’s French league match against Lyon two weeks ago was swift and will almost certainly get more brutal. Corsica’s only top-flight club are bottom of Ligue 1 and members of the Bastia 1905 ultra group may have sealed the club’s descent into the second tier by twice attacking assorted Lyon players before the game was called off. Bastia were ordered to play Saturday’s home game against Rennes behind closed doors at the neutral Stade Parsemain in Fos‑sur‑Mer on the French mainland, where they maintained their hopes of survival with a 1-0 win over the Breton side. However, further sanctions – including a likely points deduction – will soon be announced, and the section of Bastia’s Stade de Furiani that houses away fans has also been closed indefinitely.
Related: Bastia v Lyon abandoned after home fans invade pitch and attack players
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