European Football

Spain prosecutor wants 8 years for Marseille fan

19:23 GMT, Thu 6 Nov 2008
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An Olympique Marseille supporter holds his bleeding head after clashing with Spanish riot police before the Champions League soccer match against Atletico Madrid at Vicente Calderon stadium in Madrid October 1, 2008. REUTERS/Andrea Comas (SPAIN)

MADRID, Nov 6 (Reuters) - The Spanish state prosecutor has recommended an eight-year jail term for an Olympique Marseille fan detained after the French side's Champions League match against Atletico Madrid last month.

Police clashed with Marseille fans before the start of the Oct. 1 match, which Atletico won 2-1, and the fan, named by the French club as Santos Mirasierra, has been in custody since.

The list of charges against him includes public order offences and assaulting a police officer, according to a Madrid court statement published on Thursday.

Prosecutors also want him banned from soccer stadiums for three years and fined, the statement said.

"My first feelings are desolation, sadness," Marseille president Pape Diouf told the club's website (www.om.net).

"We must bear in mind that it is the Spanish police that are responsible for what happened, as they did brutally charge at our fans.

"We thought that this farce would come to an end but it is another step in foolishness and the unacceptable," Diouf added.

"It is also time for the French State to become aware of this matter."

UEFA said failures in Atletico's organisation had prompted confrontations between Marseille fans and police and initially ordered the Spanish club to play their following two European fixtures at least 300km (186 miles) outside Madrid.

It also threatened a home stadium ban for a third game if there was further trouble.

The two-match ban was later reduced to one match played without spectators but Atletico have said they will fight the ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Marseille host Atletico on Dec. 9 in the last Group D match.

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