Ligue 1 bottom club Metz will be docked a point and must play a home match behind closed doors after a racist incident there last month.

Morocco defender Abdeslam Ouaddou, the Valenciennes captain, was racially abused by a Metz fan during the Ligue 1 match at Metz on February 16.

Metz said they would seek legal counsel over the League's decision.

"We are surprised by the harshness of the sanction," they said on their website.

"In the coming days, we will talk with our lawyers in order to find the best way to respond to this decision."

Metz - who themselves filed a legal complaint against the supporter - now have 17 points from 30 matches and trail 17th placed Racing Lens, who are just above safety, by 17 points.

The offending spectator - described as "mentally simple" during his trial - was banned from all football stadiums for two years and handed a suspended prison sentence.

Reuters