CHATEAUROUX, France — In an incident that marred a recent third-tier soccer match, French club Châteauroux reported that four fans from Nimes sustained injuries following an assault in the away section on Friday night.

Officials from Châteauroux issued a statement on their social media account, indicating their intention to file charges against the individuals responsible for the attack, who were identified as not being affiliated with Châteauroux.

The club explained that around 30 individuals, unrelated to the match and coming from outside Châteauroux, invaded the area designated for Nîmes supporters. These assailants, donned in balaclavas and brandishing iron bars, launched the violent attack. Châteauroux confirmed that the emergency services were on-site to treat the four people who were injured during the confrontation.

Visual evidence circulating online depicted several individuals lying on the ground amidst chaos, having been encircled and assaulted by the attackers.

Reports from French media suggest that the assailants were associated with a group from Montpellier, a club that is a longstanding rival of Nimes, with the two cities located approximately 50 kilometers (31 miles) apart. This geographical distance, as Châteauroux is located more than 500 kilometers away from Montpellier, raises concerns that the attack may have been orchestrated in advance rather than a spontaneous act.