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UEFA gives Lyon, Besiktas suspended European bans after crowd melee

Lyon and Besiktas both received suspended European bans from UEFA on Wednesday after crowd disturbances delayed the start of last week's Europa League game.

Europe's governing body fined the clubs €100,000 each after finding them equally responsible for the incidents, which set the kick-off back 45 minutes before Lyon won 2-1. The second leg of the tie is set for Thursday in Istanbul.

If there are any other further incidents involving the clubs in the next two years, UEFA will also ban them from playing in the next European competition for which they qualify.

A UEFA statement said: "Based on the official reports and the current available evidence at the disposal of the UEFA disciplinary bodies, the [Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body] has considered that the supporters of both clubs were responsible for the crowd disturbances at the match."

Tension between rival supporters in the east-central French city spilled into the Parc OL before the scheduled kick-off, with a barrage of projectiles from the upper tiers forcing fans on to the pitch and casting the viability of the fixture into doubt.

The French club blamed the visiting Besiktas fans for the trouble, but both teams were charged -- Lyon on the basis that fireworks were ignited, stairways were blocked, and that there was insufficient organisation regarding the segregation of supporters, and Besiktas for fireworks, throwing objects and crowd disturbances.

Lyon were on the receiving end of more fan trouble on Sunday, when their Ligue 1 match was abandoned after Bastia fans appeared to enter the pitch to confront Lyon players before the game began and again at half-time.

Bastia have subsequently closed one of the stands at their Stade Armand Cesari and plan to redevelop it in order to prevent a repeat.