Former France star Tony Vairelles jailed for five years after being found guilty of shooting three nightclub bouncers

FORMER France international Tony Vairelles has been sentenced to five years in prison over his role in shooting three bouncers in 2011.

The 49-year-old, who earned eight Les Bleus caps between 1998-2000, was on trial in March over the incident which occurred almost 11 years ago.

Vairelles has been sentenced to five years in jail, two of which have been suspended, after being found guilty of violence with a weapon.

The incident saw a trio of bouncers injured in the October 2011 attack at a local nightclub in Meurthe-et-Moselle.

His three brothers were also sentenced at Nancy Criminal Court for their role in the shooting.

Fabrice Vairelles received the same sentence as Tony, while Jimmy and Giovan were given three years in prison, two of which were suspended.

Vairelles and his siblings clashed with the men at the 4 As (Four Aces) at Essey-les-Nancy, around 200 miles east of Paris.

The bouncers were struck by bullets following a fight inside the club.

Speaking in court earlier in the year, one of the victims, Baldassare Di Napoli, said: "The shooter tried to aim his gun at my face.

"I tried to take the pistol off him, and a bullet went through my hand.

";I still have pains in the length of my arm, and psychological problems."

His brother and fellow bouncer Carlo remarked: "I feared I would never walk again. I was in hospital for months, and have post-traumatic stress."

Meanwhile the third doorman, Peter Gerdrum, said he can still barely walk since being shot in the thigh.

Vairelles made 557 league appearances before retiring in 2011, scoring 148 goals.

He played for the likes of Lyon, Lens, Nancy, Bordeaux, Bastia, Rennes, Tours, Gueugnon, Belgians Lierse and Luxembourg side Dudelange.

The former striker won Ligue 1 titles with Lens in 1998 and Lyon five years later, as well as lifting the Coupe de la Ligue with the former in 1999.