Manchester City supporter in coma but now stable after service station attack in Belgium

A Manchester City supporter who was attacked after the club's Champions League match at Club Brugge remains in a coma but is now in a stable condition, Belgian prosecutors have confirmed.

Five men were arrested after 63-year-old City fan Guido De Pauw, who is Belgian, was hospitalised after being attacked at a service station on the E40 motorway in Drongen on Tuesday, following the 5-1 win for City at the Jan Breydel Stadium.

One suspect has been charged with theft with violence and theft with aggravated violence, another with intentional beatings and incapacitating injuries, and all five with culpable negligence, the East Flanders prosecutor's office said in a statement on Friday.

The five men were brought before a judge in the city of Ghent on Thursday. Three have been released under strict conditions, including a ban on attending football matches, and two have remained detained, prosecutors added.

On Wednesday prosecutors said that De Pauw had life-threatening injuries. In their latest update on Friday, they confirmed he was "still in a coma but his condition is now stable".

Manchester City said they were "shocked and saddened" by the incident, while Club Brugge said they were "horrified".

City manager Pep Guardiola wore a t-shirt which read 'We're with you, Guido' to a press conference on Friday.

"Of course the whole club and organisation from the chairman down we are behind him and we are optimistic because in the last hours he is getting better," said Guardiola, ahead of Saturday's match against Brighton.

"Of course he has all the support through the club and whatever they need from our club is there.

"We have a big, big hug for him and for all his family, and we wish that he can come back soon to the Etihad Stadium."