FOOTIE ARREST | FORMER ARSENAL & MAN CITY STAR SAMIR NASRI 'ARRESTED AS PART OF MONEY LAUNDERING PROBE INTO DRUG TRAFFICKER "WILD BOAR"

FORMER Arsenal and Manchester City star Samir Nasri has reportedly been arrested as part of a money laundering probe linked to the drug trafficking kingpin “Wild Boar”.

The former Premier League footballer was caught up in a sprawling police investigation surrounding alleged links to the criminal network of the jailed Marseille trafficker.

Ex-Manchester City star Samir Nasri has reportedly been arrested as part of a money laundering probe connected to drug traffickingCredit: PA:Press Association

The former Premier League footballer was caught up in a sprawling investigationCredit: Getty

Nasri, who now works as a pundit for French TV channel Canal Plus, was grilled for around ten hours on Thursday by cops, Le Parisien reports.

Questioning formed part of a major investigation into suspected drug importation, criminal conspiracy and organised money laundering of drug trafficking proceeds.

The football star, 39, was released Thursday evening without charge and no legal proceedings have been launched against him.

Investigators are probing alleged links between Nasri and a criminal network surrounding Hakim Berrebouh nicknamed “Wild Boar,” a drug trafficker who has been imprisoned since 2021.

The explosive case also names Olivier Sabbah, known as “Paulo”, who is presented as one of the alleged pillars of a money laundering network connected to Berrebouh’s criminal activities.

Police are reportedly examining Nasri’s alleged involvement in the “organised money laundering” aspect of the case through XS nightclub in Ivry-sur-Seine, Val-de-Marne.

Nasri became a shareholder in the venue around 2016 after reportedly investing a few hundred thousand euros while he was earning millions at Manchester City.

The ex-France midfielder later became co-owner of the nightclub alongside Bilele Z., described as one of his loyal clients, who was also placed in police custody on Thursday.

Nasri was grilled for around ten hours by copsCredit: Graham Hughes – The Times

Nasri now works as a pundit for French TV channel Canal PlusCredit: Getty

The shocking investigation has focused on the years between 2021 and 2023, with detectives examining claims that large amounts of cash were taken from the venue.

According to evidence gathered during the preliminary investigation, Berrebouh’s wife allegedly visited the nightclub several times to withdraw large sums of money while her husband was behind bars.

Nasri’s alleged connection to the Berrebouh family stretches back to his childhood in Marseille, where he was reportedly close to Karim’s older brother.

The former France international, who earned 41 caps between 2007 and 2013, is said to have reconnected with Berrebouh in Dubai during the first lockdown in 2020.

Investigators claim Berrebouh later suggested that Nasri take a financial stake in XS, but the agreement allegedly remained verbal and was never formally recorded.

During his police custody, Nasri reportedly maintained that he believed he had sold all his shares in the nightclub to Berrebouh.

The latest police grilling came after Nasri was already questioned in Marseille in late June as part of the same sweeping investigation.

The former Les Bleus star could face further questioning over a potential formal indictment, despite currently facing no charges.

His lawyer, Saïd Harir, declined to comment when approached.

- Jeylin Mehmet

FABRIZIO ROMANO REVEALS IF ARSENAL WILL SELL ETHAN NWANERI AFTER MARSEILLE SPELL: ' I CAN GUARANTEE '

Fabrizio Romano has said that Arsenal have no plans whatsoever to sell Ethan Nwaneri in the summer after the journalist reflected on a difficult spell for the teenager with Marseille and having revealed what the immediate future holds for the 18-year-old in France.

Nwaneri joined Marseille on loan from Arsenal in the winter transfer window and is scheduled to return to the Premier League club at the end of the season.

The 18-year-old attacking midfielder was expected to be a regular for Marseille under then-manager Roberto De Zerbi.

However, De Zerbi left his managerial role at Marseille by mutual consent in February, and things have been tough for Nwaneri.

Nwaneri, who is also able to operate as a winger, has been able to make only seven appearances for Marseille during his loan spell so far, scoring one goal and providing one assist in the process.

The English gem is under contract at Arsenal until the summer of 2030, and transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has revealed that the Premier League club have no plans whatsoever to sell him.

Romano said on his YouTube channel about Nwaneri: “Yes, for Nwaneri it’s not an easy situation at present obviously because he went to Olympique Marseille with the expectation to work under Roberto De Zerbi, and then De Zerbi decided to leave Marseille.

“So, it’s a completely different situation. Also, the expectation was for Marseille to continue their Champions League campaign, and then they got eliminated in the final minutes of the final game.

“So, it has been different compared to the expectations for Nwaneri. But, at the moment, I can guarantee that Arsenal maintain full confidence in the player.

“So, Arsenal are waiting for him to complete the season at Olympique Marseille for this final 10, 11 games and then come back to the club, come back to Arsenal. They believe in Nwaneri 100%.

"So, the message from Arsenal is still optimistic. In the summer, they will speak to the player to understand what’s the best situation for him, whether it’s staying at Arsenal or maybe going on loan somewhere else.

"So, they will assess all the options with the player. But Arsenal maintain full trust in Ethan.

“Even if they understand it has been an unlucky loan so far at Olympique Marseille, they believe in the player, they trust the player, they trust his potential, and so nothing has changes in terms of long-term plans.”

Romano’s update on Nwaneri is in sharp contrast to a report in The Telegraph earlier this month.

The report claimed that Nwaneri is one of the players that Arsenal could sell at the end of the season.

French publication L’Equipe has reported that Marseille have no plans to make Nwaneri’s loan deal permanent.

Arsenal sent Nwaneri out on loan for the second half of the season to get some regular playing time.

That is not happening, and it will be interesting to see what Nwaneri does next season, given that he will once again not be guaranteed a place in the Arsenal starting line-up.

Latest Arsenal transfer news: Midfielder ‘talks’, Nigerian ‘superstar’ wanted

Meanwhile, sources have told TEAMtalk’s transfer correspondent, Fraser Fletcher, that Arsenal have held ‘talks’ to sign a dynamic Bundesliga midfielder, but there is interest in him from Manchester United, too.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is reportedly keen on signing a Nigerian ‘superstar’ this summer and views him as the ‘final piece of the puzzle’.

And finally, Arsenal are ready to ‘break the market’ by signing a truly world-class winger.

- Subhankar Mondal

TOP 10 IN TOP 5 LEAGUES IN EUROPE

This is how the Top 10 Table appears in the Top 5 leagues, prior to the international break. Only Arsenal represents the English Premier League and LaLiga has four teams representing them.

Felix Ebih Ogbu

STAT ATTACK: REAL MADRID NOW THE TEAM WITH MOST PENALTIES IN UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE HISTORY

Photo by Mateo Villalba Sanchez/Getty Images
 

Real Madrid edged past Olympique de Marseille with a 2-1 win in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night at the Santiago Bernabeu.

It was a closely-fought match ultimately decided by two penalties for the home team, converted by superstar Kylian Mbappe.

Most penalties in UCL history

Spanish statistician Alexis María Martín-Tamayo Blázquez – better known as MisterChip – revealed on his X account that with the second penalty against Marseille, Real Madrid have now been awarded 63 penalties in the Champions League.

That tally sees the 15-time winners surpass Bayern Munich to become the club with the most penalties in the competition’s history.

Bayern Munich occupy the second place with 62 penalties awarded while Barcelona are third, with 56 spot-kicks given in their favour so far.

Controversy surrounding Real Madrid’s second penalty

Real Madrid were awarded the first penalty in the first half for a poor challenge on Rodrygo Goes by Geoffrey Kondogbia and Mbappe had no problem tucking it away.

The second one came after the half-time break for a handball by Facundo Medina and the Frenchman found the back of the net from the penalty spot again.

However, the referee’s decision to award Real Madrid the penalty for the handball sparked some controversy, with Marseille manager Roberto De Zerbi and director Medhi Benatia both questioning the call.

"The second penalty was a bit embarrassing, and I would say that if it had been awarded to me,” De Zerbi said, as quoted by MARCA.

“It’s a very difficult penalty to accept, but I already experienced it here seven years ago (with Juventus in 2018). I have the same feeling,” Benatia noted, insinuating favourable treatment towards Real Madrid.

 - Raghavendra Goudar

WHAT ARE ARSENAL'S AWAY RECORD IN FRANCE AHEAD OF CRUNCH UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SEMI-FINAL SHOWDOWN WITH PARIS SAINT- GERMAIN

Arsenal.com

Trailing 1-0 from the first leg, Arsenal will need a big performance if they are to overcome Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League second leg. Ousmane Dembele's goal gave the Parisians a first-leg victory at the Emirates with the Gunners heading to France needing a win to remain in contention. TNT Sports looks at whether history is on their side at the Parc des Princes.

Arsenal are facing an uphill task if they are to reach the UEFA Champions League final for the first time since 2006.

Mikel Arteta’s side put in a lacklustre display in the first leg of their semi-final as they were beaten 1-0 by an impressive Paris Saint-Germain, thanks to Ousmane Dembele's early goal.

And ahead of the second leg, live on TNT Sports and discovery+, the Gunners find themselves in inconsistent form, losing their most recent Premier League outing against Bournemouth leaving them with just three league wins in 10.

Europe remains their last shot at silverware this season and Arsenal will have to produce something special to overturn the first-leg deficit and advance to the final in Munich at the end of the month.

The trip to France may be a daunting one, but it presents an opportunity, and Arteta’s side might look to take inspiration from previous trips to the country.

What is Arsenal’s record against French teams away from home?

Ahead of their latest showdown in Paris, Arsenal have played away in France in European competition a total of 15 times, winning eight, drawing five and losing twice. They have scored 20 times and conceded 14 in that time.

While Gunners fans will be encouraged by the victories, there will be concern that only one of these has arrived by more than a single goal, which would only be enough to force extra time this week.

Another concern would be that, after a run of seven victories between 2000 and 2015, their last two trips to France against Stade Rennes and Lens have ended in defeat.

Winning in normal time would require Arsenal scoring twice, something they have managed five times in total in France, and have only ever failed to score in the country on one occasion.

Defensively, Arsenal know a clean sheet is probably needed if they are to realise their ambitions, something they have managed six times on previous trips to France.

What are all of Arsenal’s results in France?

FC Rouen 1969/70 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup third round first leg – 0-0

Arsenal first visited France in the third round of the 1969/70 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup – the predecessor to the UEFA Cup and UEFA Europa League – taking on FC Rouen in a first-leg stalemate.

The Gunners won an equally tight second leg 1-0 with a last-minute winner from Jon Sammels on their way to lifting the trophy.

Paris Saint-Germain 1994/95 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup semi-final first leg – 1-1

Arsenal’s next trip to France in European competition was coincidentally to the Parc des Princes to face PSG back in their successful 1994 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup run.

The leg of the semi-final in France saw Ian Wright put Arsenal in front 10 minutes before half-time, though David Ginola levelled for the home side in the second half.

Kevin Campbell secured a 1-0 win in the return match to send Arsenal to the final.

Auxerre 1994/95 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup quarter-final second leg – 1-0 win

The following year saw Arsenal win in France for the first time courtesy of an Ian Wright screamer in the second leg of the Cup Winners’ Cup quarter-final, following a 1-1 draw at home.

Lens 1998/99 UEFA Champions League group stage – 1-1

The Gunners were left frustrated in their opening match of the group as Tony Vairelles’ stoppage-time equaliser denied Arsene Wenger’s side victory after Marc Overmars had given them a second-half lead.

Nantes 1999/00 UEFA Cup third round second leg – 3-3

Leading 3-0 from the first leg, Arsenal were 6-1 up on aggregate by half-time at Stade de la Beaujoire after Gilles Grimandi, Thierry Henry and Overmars cancelled out Antoine Sibierski’s opener for the home side.

Nantes did rally, however, as Sibierski and Marama Vahirua restored pride by salvaging a draw.

Lens 1999/2000 UEFA Cup semi-final – 2-1 win

With a 1-0 lead from the Highbury fixture, Henry’s goal before the break at Stade Bollaert-Delelis doubled Arsenal’s advantage in the tie.

Although Pascal Nouma reduced the deficit, Nwankwo Kanu restored the two-goal advantage late on to book the Gunners’ place in the final.

Lyon 2000/01 UEFA Champions League second group stage – 1-0 win

Henry was once again the scourge of his countrymen with the winning goal in this clash at Stade de Gerland.

Auxerre 2002/03 UEFA Champions League first group stage – 1-0 win

Another hard-fought victory on French soil, with Gilberto netting the only goal of the game at the start of the second half.

Marseille 2011/12 UEFA Champions League group stage – 1-0 win

A now familiar scoreline when Wenger returned to his homeland with Arsenal. This time the Gunners left it late with Aaron Ramsey snatching the winner deep into stoppage time to steal the three points.

Montpellier 2012/13 UEFA Champions League group stage – 2-1 win

An electric start saw Younes Belhanda fire the home side ahead from the penalty spot but within ten minutes, Arsenal were ahead through Lukas Podolski and Gervinho with no further scoring.

Marseille 2013/14 UEFA Champions League group stage – 2-1 win

Theo Walcott volleyed Arsenal into the lead at the Velodrome with 25 minutes to play before Ramsey wrapped up victory with 5 minutes to play.

Jordan Ayew scored a late penalty, but it was ultimately inconsequential.

Monaco 2014/15 UEFA Champions League round of 16 – 2-0 win (3-3 aggregate, lost on away goals)

A seventh successive win on French soil, but there was little cause for celebration as Arsenal crashed out of the competition.

A shock 3-1 home defeat left the Gunners with all to do in the return match, but goals from Olivier Giroud and Ramsey weren’t enough and the Ligue 1 side advanced on away goals.

Paris Saint-Germain 2016/17 UEFA Champions League group stage – 1-1

Edinson Cavani headed PSG in front after three minutes and threatened a rout but wasteful finishing allowed Alexis Sanchez to snatch a late point for the Gunners.

Stade Rennais 2018/19 UEFA Europa League round of 16 first leg – 1-3 defeat

A first defeat in France came against an inspired Rennes side who were eyeing a huge scalp.

Alex Iwobi put the Gunners 1-0 up but a red card for defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos turned the game on its head as Benjamin Bourigeaud, a Nacho Monreal own-goal and Ismaila Sarr compounded Unai Emery’s side to defeat.

The Gunners recovered to blitz their opponents 3-0 in the return leg to advance.

Lens 2023/24 UEFA Champions League group stage – 2-1 defeat

Arsenal’s most recent trip across the channel also ended in defeat despite taking an early lead through Gabriel Jesus.

Goals from Adrien Thomasson and Elye Wahi stunned Arteta’s side.

- IBRAHIM MUSTAPHA

MARSEILLE HIGHLIGHTS | SEMI-FINALS

 

MARSEILLE HIGHLIGHTS | QUARTER-FINAL

MARSEILLE HIGHLIGHTS | DAY 4

 

MARSEILLE HIGHLIGHTS | DAY 2

 

MARSEILLE HIGHLIGHTS | DAY 1

 

PROFILE & ROUTE GRAND PRIX LA MARSEILLAISE 2025

The French racing calendar starts off on the 2nd of February, a day packed with cycling. The Grand Prix La Marseillais is a race with a familiar profile, a race that suits the classics riders well, but every year opens up opportunities for some sprinters and climbers alike.

The French race has it's traditional course. A hilly day on the bike with an open finale. 166 kilometers of racing and 2700 meters of climbing, the peloton will face rolling climbs throughout the entire day. The race will be decided late on with a climb of 4.1 kilometers at 7.6%, and then 2.2 kilometers at 6%. The Col de la Gineste is then a false flat rise into the final kilometers, before the peloton descends back into Marseille for a possible sprint or solo finish.

- Rúben Silva

MARSEILLE PLAYER OF THE MONTH | MASON GREENWOOD

 

ATALANTA MAKE IT TO THE FINAL | EUROPA LEAGUE 2024

 

EUROPA LEAGUE BRACKET | SEMI-FINALS SECOND-LEG RESULTS

 

FRENCH CHARITY BOYCOTTS OLYMPIC TORCH RELAY OVER COCA-COLA PARTNERSHIP

A volunteer of the "Clean my Calanques" association walks with a trash bag on a beach in Cassis, southeastern France, on September 12, 2020, ahead of the World Clean Up Day. CHRISTOPHE SIMON / AFP

 An NGO in Marseille called Clean My Calanques, which specializes in beach cleaning, received funding from the 2024 Paris Olympics organizing committee for its work educating school children. But it announced on Monday, April 29, that it would not take part in the torch relay which will begin in Marseille on May 8, thanks in part to financing from premium Olympics sponsor Coca-Cola.

"We are not going to carry a flame which is paid for by the same people who make us bend over," the founder of Clean My Calanques, Eric Akopian, told Agence France-Presse (AFP). Set up in 2017, the organization's volunteers clean beaches around Marseille and in the nearby national Calanques park, whose narrow coves and azure waters make it a popular spot for tourists and locals.

Akopian said Coca-Cola was one of the "most polluting [companies] in the world", with its bottles and cans some of the products found most frequently during the charity's beach-combing operations.

In a video message posted on Instagram, he said the organization had decided it was "not at ease" with the commercial aspects of the Olympics, although he stressed they had "nothing against sports, or the athletes." Akopian noted the mass production of so-called "goodies" linked to the Games such as stickers, key rings, pens or mascots. "They can seem cute, but we know that we're going to find them on the coastline," he told AFP.

French authorities say up to 150,000 people are set to gather in Marseille for the start of the torch relay, which will see the Olympic flame carried through mainland France and the country's overseas territories in the Caribbean and Indian Ocean.

Paris 2024 organizers have worked with Coca-Cola to reduce plastic waste from its drinks packaging. The group has agreed to install 700 newly designed drink fountains at Olympic venues, meaning that around 50% of soft drinks will be served without a plastic bottle, according to the organizing committee.

- LeMonde with AFP

LEVERKUSEN'S UNBEATEN RUN AND KLOPP'S FAIRYTALE FINISH AT STAKE IN EUROPA LEAGUE QUARTERS

AP Photo 

 The Europa League has reached the quarterfinals, with Bayer Leverkusen and Liverpool looking the teams to beat.

Here are the narratives at play ahead of the first-leg matches on Thursday:

STILL UNBEATEN

It’s 41 games and counting for Bayer Leverkusen and Xabi Alonso.

In what is turning into an historic season, the German club has yet to be beaten in any game in any competition and takes that undefeated streak into a home game against West Ham.

Leverkusen is on course to clinch its first ever Bundesliga title this weekend, with the team having built a remarkable 16-point lead. The trophy will be theirs if second-place Bayern Munich loses to Cologne on Saturday, otherwise on Sunday if Leverkusen wins at home to Werder Bremen.

Alonso’s team is also in the German Cup final, so a treble of trophies is on.

West Ham is having another impressive season in Europe after winning the Europa Conference League last season.

FAIRYTALE ENDING

Another team bidding for a treble is Liverpool, in manager Jurgen Klopp's final season in charge.

The English League Cup has already been secured and the team is embroiled in a tight Premier League title race with Arsenal and Manchester City, with only one point separating the three clubs with seven games left.

If Liverpool reaches the Europa League final, it would be Klopp's final game in charge after nearly nine years — ensuring fans of the Reds would make the short trip to Dublin in their thousands in the hope of a fairytale ending for the German coach.

Next up for Liverpool is Atalanta. They met in the group stage of the 2020-21 Champions League, with each team winning away.

AO Photo 

COMPLETING THE SET

Lifting the Europa League would see AC Milan complete the set in continental soccer.

Milan, a seven-time winner of the European Cup or Champions League, has also won the discontinued European Cup Winners' Cup twice, as well as the UEFA Super Cup a record five times but has never triumphed in the Europa League, or the UEFA Cup as it was previously known.

The Rossoneri have never even reached the final — something Roma, its opponent in the quarterfinals, achieved twice, losing both in 1991 and last year.

Milan is no stranger to all-Italian knockout matches, having beaten Napoli in the Champions League quarterfinals last season before losing to Inter Milan in the semifinals.

MARSEILLE

Marseille’s resurgence under coach Jean-Louis Gasset has ground to a halt. After winning his first five games in charge, with 18 goals scored during that run, Gasset’s side has lost the past four matches. Marseille’s bad habits have returned, with defensive lapses, sloppy play in midfield and a lack of cutting edge up front all too apparent recently. At least Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is still scoring, though, and he has 23 goals this season. The former Arsenal and Barcelona striker has been particularly strong in Europe this campaign with 11 goals in 11 games. But Gasset also needs someone else to step up in attack against Benfica.

CONFERENCE LEAGUE

It's also the quarterfinals of the Conference League on Thursday, with Aston Villa hosting Lille in the standout matchup.

Villa is managed by Unai Emery, whose pedigree in Europa is well-known after winning the Europa League on four occasions — three times with Sevilla and once with Villarreal — and also getting to the final with Arsenal.

Also, Olympiakos is at home to Fenerbahce, Fiorentina heads to Viktoria Plzen and Club Brugge and PAOK. Olympiakos and PAOK are hoping to reach a home final in Athens.

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AP Sports Writers Daniella Matar in Milan and Jerome Pugmire in Paris contributed to this story

PSG BOSS LUIS ENRIQUE DENIES MBAPPÉ ROW AFTER LATEST SUB

Kylian Mbappé has been repeatedly benched since his decision to leave PSG became public. Christian Liewig - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images

 Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique has branded reports that Kylian Mbappé insulted him after the France forward was substituted in Sunday's league win at Marseille as "a lie."

Mbappé looked serious as he walked off the pitch after being replaced in the 65th minute of his team's 2-0 triumph in Le Classique and appeared to utter some words which some on social media interpreted as insults.

"The curious thing is that everything that is generated from a lie is what happens in the world of football," Luis Enrique said when asked about Mbappé's reaction to being substituted. "One has invented an insult and speculations of all kinds have arisen."

Mbappé has played only one full game in PSG's last seven Ligue 1 matches, with Luis Enrique repeatedly benching his star player since his decision to leave the club went public in February.

Sources have told ESPN that he is expected to join Real Madrid this summer once his contract with PSG expires, with talks still ongoing.

Mbappé posted a photograph on Instagram of himself walking off the pitch against Marseille with his head down while holding the captain's armband in his right hand.

There was no message on the Instagram post.

Luis Enrique, who believes Mbappé "could change his mind" and remain at PSG next season, said he is pleased with the player's "attitude."

"After the games it is a complicated moment, I feel very tired," Luis Enrique said. "But I am very happy with all the players, including Kylian. He has a sensational attitude."

- Adriana Garcia

PSG STAR KYLIAN MBAPPÉ SUES KEBAB MAKER FOR USING HIS NAME

Kylian Mbappé is upset about the misuse of his name. Tnani Badreddine/DeFodi Images via Getty Images

 Kylian Mbappé is suing a kebab shop owner for using his name in the description of one of his sandwiches.

Mohamed Henni, an influencer based in Marseille and well known in the football world in France, has opened a kebab shop.

The description of his Klüb kebab is that it is made with a "baker round bread, as round as Mbappé's skull."

Henni, a Marseille fan with 1.8 million followers on Instagram, received a certified letter, seen by ESPN, on Wednesday morning from Delphine Verheyden, the Mbappés' lawyer, on behalf of KMA, the company created by the player to deal with all his sponsors, merchandising and image rights.

The letter demands that Henni remove the name of Mbappé from his menu within eight days before taking him to court for using his name without his consent for commercial purposes.

The influencer, clearly shocked by Mbappé's actions, reacted on his Instagram account.

"Are you not ashamed? You have nothing else to do? Suing me for something so futile? It is incredible. I can't believe it!" Henni told his followers.

Dimitri Payet, the former Olympique Marseille and West Ham star, currently playing at Vasco da Gama, is also part of one sandwich description: "A crepe as loaded as Payet."

- Julien Laurens, Correspondent

BISSES CARRYING MARSEILLE FANS BACK FROM CLAREMONT PELTED WITH OBJECTS THROWN FROM BRIDGE

 SAINT-ETIENNE, France (AP) — Eight buses carrying Marseille fans back from Clermont after a French league game on Saturday night were pelted with objects thrown from a bridge, the the local prefecture said on Sunday.

The latest bus attack to mar the French league this season occured at around 1:30 a.m. on the A47 motorway heading to Lyon, the Loire prefecture said in a statement, on X, adding that “heavy projectiles” were dropped from an overhead bridge. Some Marseille fans then got off and damaged a car, injuring the driver inside.

An official inquest into the incidents has been opened.

Chunks of rubble, mortar and shards of glass were found inside some of Marseille's buses upon arrival, according to French media reports, and some Marseille fans who got off reportedly had baseball bats ready for a confrontation.

Last month, French soccer club Nice said one of its fans was injured when a bus carrying supporters was pelted with stones after a league game at Lyon.

Earlier this season, Lyon’s team bus was pelted with objects as it approached bitter rival Marseille’s stadium and former Lyon coach Fabio Grosso sustained a serious head injury.

Buses carrying Brest supporters were also targeted after games at Paris Saint-Germain and Montpellier, where a bus was hit by rocks reportedly thrown from a motorway bridge.

This season has been marred by increasing soccer violence in France and elsewhere in Europe, including an incident in which a Greek fan was killed in August following a clash before a Champions League game between AEK Athens and Dinamo Zagreb.

A Nantes fan was stabbed and killed in Nantes before a match against Nice in early December.

Last Saturday, Lille hooligans brawled with Toulouse and PSG hooligans — who have an alliance — in the city center the night before Toulouse's home game with Toulouse.

AC MILAN, ROMA, MARSEILLE, BENFICA ADVANCE TO EUROPA LEAGUE ROUND OF 16

AP Photo

AC Milan advanced to the round of 16 in the Europa League despite a 3-2 loss at Rennes in the second leg of their playoff on Thursday.

Milan, which won 3-0 at the San Siro last week, eliminated its French opponent on a 5-3 aggregate score.

The Italian powerhouse, a seven-time European champion, has never won the second-tier Europa League or its predecessor, the UEFA Cup.

Midfielder Benjamin Bourigeaud’s hat trick put the hosts up three times with Milan quickly answering twice.

Bourigeaud netted the opener in the 11th minute with a fierce right-footed shot from over 20 meters to beat goalkeeper Mike Maignan.

Forward Luka Jović canceled it out 10 minutes later with a header off a cross by captain Theo Hernández.

Bourigeaud made it 2-1 early in the second from the penalty spot but Rafael Leão equalized after four minutes on a fine solo effort.

Bourigeaud sent Maignan the wrong way with another spot kick to make it 3-2.

The eight runners-up in the Europa League group stage played the eight third-place teams from the Champions League group stage in the playoffs.

The eight winners will take on the Europa League’s group winners, who qualified directly for the round of 16. They are Liverpool, West Ham and Brighton from the Premier League, as well Leverkusen, Atalanta, Villarreal, Rangers and Slavia Prague.

The draw is scheduled for Friday.