Lyon academy ace, 13, charged for murder after boy, 16, found stabbed to death

FRENCH giants Lyon have been left in shock after one of their academy players was charged with MURDER.

The club is joint top of Ligue 1 after winning an appeal against a decision to relegate them for financial reasons.

1 Chems Z was tragically stabbed to death

But Lyon have been plunged into a fresh crisis after local police arrested a 13-year-old member of their academy.

A teenager was stabbed to death on Sunday night in the north Lyon suburb Caluire-et-Cuire.

Named only as Chems Z, the 16-year-old was with two friends when he was attacked around 10.30pm.

He sustained a knife wound to the upper body and was rushed to hospital, but doctors were unable to save him.

French media reported that a 13-year-old Lyon player, who lived locally, has since been arrested and charged with murder.

He has not been named for legal reasons due to his age.

A poster appeared near the site of the incident, bearing Chems' picture and an emotional message.

It read: "Your smile will continue to shine in our memories.

"You will remain in our hearts for ever - rest in peace."

Caluire mayor Bastien Joint lamented: "Our community has been struck by an utter drama.

"We are all in mourning alongside the family.

"This incident was nothing to do with drug dealing or criminal networks - it was simply a personal disagreement that got out of hand.

"Society has to react and no longer look away, so that a quarrel can never again lead to the death of a child."