PSG fans banned from Bastia trip

Paris, Jan 9: Fans of French football club Paris Saint–Germain (PSG) have been banned from travelling to SC Bastia as the defending Ligue 1 champions visit Corsica Saturday for a 20th round game. After Wednesday’s terrorism attack at the Paris office of satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, terror alert raised to highest level in France and the country’s Interior Ministry issued a statement to explain it could not risk further disturbances. “Relations between supporters of SC Bastia and Paris Saint– Germain have been tainted with animosity for a number of years, as testified to by the recurrent serious public order incidents at matches between the two clubs,” read the statement. Bastia have had recurring problems with violence at matches in recent seasons, and clashes between rival supporters at their opening league game against Marseille left a number of people in hospital in last August.

PSG have also had their troubles with violent factions within their support, who has been notorious for its hooligan elements. IANS