Former International Footballer, Tony Vairelles was convicted for armed assault by a French court on Monday. The court sentenced the former French striker to five years imprisonment for an armed assault he committed during a nightclub brawl in 2011.
Also convicted were his siblings, Jimmy, Fabrice, and Giovan, for assaulting a security staff member at the club after they were bounced out for improper behavior. Tony and his three brothers returned with baseball bats and attacked the door staff, causing a commotion in the club before one man opened fire.
Three bouncers sustained gunshot injuries, but the court ruled to have them imprisoned for three to four months for having a part in the fight. Vairelle’s lawyers had sought the dismissal of the case, arguing that the investigation had lasted for too long with at least four judges presiding over the case for over 10 years. He and his brothers had denied the charges of attempted murder and were released on bail in 2012.
Vairelles’ lawyer’s attempt to evade the charges however failed as the judge eventually ruled to have him and his siblings sentenced to prison.
The former French striker, now 49 years old, starred for AS Nancy, before moving to Lens and Lyon. Vairelles won the French title with Lens in 1998 and with Lyon in 2003. He has eight international caps for France.
