Former France star nicked

Three nightclub security personnel were injured in the incident outside a club in Essey-les-Nancy on the outskirts on Nancy, where Vairelles was born.

Four others - including one of the former Nancy, Lens and Lyon forward’s brothers - were arrested, with one man later released without charge.

Police said that Vairelles, 38, was part of a group ejected from the club for being drunk earlier that night.

The group was alleged to have returned to the venue with baseball bats: in the fight that ensued, staff sprayed tear gas and one man opened fire with a rifle.

One doorman suffered non-critical injuries to his torso, while two others suffered minor injuries.

The four men are due to appear in court on Tuesday.

Vairelles won the French title with Lens in 1998 and with Lyon in 2003, and earned eight caps for France.

He left Lyon following that title win, and drifted down the divisions before ending up at third-tier side Gueugnon, where he was captain and majority shareholder before the club went bust near the end of last season.