Jailed Marseille fan released on bail

A Marseille supporter who last week received a lengthy prison term for acts of violence during a Champions League match against Atletico Madrid was released on bail Tuesday, a judicial source said.

The judge in charge of the case ordered Santos Mirasierra’s release after he paid 6,000 euros in bail, the source told AFP.

He will be released from jail once the bail is paid. The decision comes hours before the two sides at Marseille’s Velodrome stadium for a return leg which is being placed under high security.

A Madrid court on Friday sentenced Mirasierra to three and a half years in prison for acts of violence before the start of the French side’s Champions League match at Atletico’s Vicente Calderon stadium on October 1.

Before the court issued its sentence, Atletico said it had received threatening e-mails from Marseille fans warning of retaliation during the match if Mirasierra was convicted.

During his trial, Mirasierra denied throwing a chair which injured a policeman during fighting between Marseille fans and Spanish police before the match, but admitted pushing a policeman, saying he was defending a female Marseille supporter.

Mirasierra has been held at a Spanish jail since that match.

Atletico has asked its supporters not to travel to Marseille for Tuesday’s match, noting that the club has already qualified for the next round.