Bastia punished for abuse of Mario Balotelli
Friday 24 February 2017 11:11, UK
Bastia must close part of their stadium for three matches after a group of supporters shouted racist abuse at Nice striker Mario Balotelli during a 1-1 draw in January.
The club was also given a suspended one-point deduction, meaning that for now they are still second-from-bottom in the Ligue 1 standings on 23 points, a point ahead of Lorient.
The committee listed "shouts with racist connotations towards Mario Balotelli, use of pyrotechnic devices and intrusion of supporters at the edge of the field" among the reasons for the closure.
Bastia has already banned one supporter who was caught on camera making monkey chants at Balotelli.
Balotelli was given a suspended ban after being sent off in Saturday's 1-0 win at Lorient for arguing with the referee.
The 26-year-old is already suspended for Nice's home game with Montpellier later on Friday, and the league said any further misconduct would trigger that additional ban.
