Thursday 23 October 2014 14:31, UK
Bastia have filed a civil case against Nantes goalkeeper Remy Riou in which they claim he made harmful and false claims that he was struck by stones thrown by supporters.
The teams played a Ligue 1 match at Bastia's Stade Armand-Cesari on September 24, after which 27-year-old Riou claimed he was hit by stones, a claim the Corsicans contest.
Bastia said in a statement on their official website: "SCB (Sporting Club of Bastia) has filed a complaint of 'false accusation' with the prosecutor of the Republic of Bastia.
"Saying he was the victim of stones thrown from supporters in the East stand during the heat of the meeting on Wednesday, September 24, the Nantes goalkeeper Remy Riou showed three objects he collected on the pitch to the delegate of the LFP (French football league), then two days after the match he made damning claims about our club and Corsica during an interview with the station 'Sun Radio'.
"Arguing notably to have received 'big rocks' of which one 'grazed his head', the player believed it was necessary to coat his 'testimony' with an allusion to the recent death of a player in Algeria as well as the standards in Corsica, where the people would be 'a bit lax' and where supposedly 'it's always been like that'.''
Bastia added that the claims "had caused some harm to the club which has been called to the LFP disciplinary committee over these alleged facts, which would have cost us a heavy penalty if they had been confirmed''.
Bastia insist there is no proof of their supporters offending and added: "The disciplinary committee finally exonerated the club of responsibility during its meeting on October 16, saying that 'after viewing the images and explanations, the commission hasn't been able to identify with certainty the throwing of these three stones'.''
The legal action forms part of what Bastia describe as their "stepped-up reply against outside aggression''.
Bastia say in their statement that the claims have caused a "certain and unacceptable prejudice'' against the club, and add: "Our lawyer Jean-Andre Albertini has therefore deposited this complaint for false accusation, punishable under article 226-10 of the penal code.''
