Former international footballer Tony Vairelles will not return to prison: sentenced Thursday, July 6 to eighteen months in prison by the Nancy Court of Appeal for violence at the exit of a nightclub in 2011, his sentence will be equipped with an electronic bracelet.

The 50-year-old former Blues striker was on trial for “premeditated and weaponized meeting violence” with three of his brothers for shooting at nightclub security guards in Essay-les-Nancy (Meurthe-et -Moselle) in October 2011. He was sentenced to thirty-six months in prison, including eighteen months suspended – a sentence reduced by half compared to the first instance decision, which sentenced him to three years .

“We are a little disappointed because I know that I have never shot anyone”, regretted Tony Vairelles at the end of the hearing. “We were still heard at second instance because the sentences were much reduced, but (…) we expected better,” he added. “We will see with our lawyers the outcome that we will give (…) I want to go further but we have to discuss it: this case has also been dragging on for ten years, polluting my life ( …) so I hope it will be over once and for all, “said the ex-footballer before leaving the court.

His older brother Fabrice, 56, received an identical sentence. The court, on the other hand, was more lenient with the two youngest brothers, Giovan, 42, and Jimmy, 31, receiving eighteen months in prison, twelve of which were suspended. They too will be able to arrange the firm part of their sentence.

Incarcerated for five months at the start of the investigation, Tony Vairelles has always claimed his innocence as well as that of his brothers.

Security guards given suspended sentences

“It’s a feeling half fig half grape: we are satisfied to have obtained a decision much better than that pronounced in first instance”, reacted one of the lawyers of the Vairelles family, Me Frédéric Berna. “But you can’t be satisfied with a conviction decision when you have clients who have been claiming their innocence for so long while there are still gray areas in this case,” he said.

According to their version, the two young brothers had been expelled from the nightclub, abused by three security guards. They then returned to the scene with their two eldest, Tony and Fabrice. Shots were fired by a “mysterious shooter”, according to the version of the family, whose prosecutor had noted the “clan operation”. On the contrary, the security guards claimed to have identified Tony Vairelles as the shooter.

The three security guards had their sentences increased on appeal: one was sentenced to six months suspended, the other two to eight months suspended for the violence against the Vairelles brothers. At first instance, the court handed down suspended sentences of three and four months.

“The guilt of the bouncers was confirmed and the Court of Appeal increased their sentences, this is not a trivial element”, underlined Me Virginie Barbosa, another lawyer for the Vairelles family. She raised the possibility of an appeal in cassation.

“We are also going to appeal in cassation, certainly on the issue of the reasonable time to try people, because, as we saw during the debates, it is still extremely complicated to come, more than ten years after the facts, ask people to explain themselves on points of detail, ”also pointed out Me Berna.