Russia fans deported from Euro 2016

Russia fans

Groups of Russia fans are being deported from France after repeated scenes of violence at Euro 2016.

French police blamed 150 “well-trained” Russian hooligans who had been able to evade arrest for clashes in Marseille in the run-up to Saturday’s 1-1 draw between England and Russia.

Six English fans were jailed on Monday for their roles in the disorder.

Uefa has threatened to disqualify both teams from the tournament if there is any further violence by fans.

Alexandr Shprygin, head of the Russian Union of Supporters, said 29 fans were being escorted to the airport.

France Prime Minister Manuel Valls said some football fans “cannot stay on national territory”.

Thirty-five people have been injured – most of them England fans and four seriously – while a total of 20 people were arrested after three days of disorder in Marseille.

Football Association chairman Greg Dyke expressed “serious concerns” about security in Lille, where England fans and Russian supporters are set to gather over the next three days.

England fans are likely to travel to Lille ahead of Thursday’s match against Wales in the nearby smaller town of Lens, while Russia play Slovakia in the city itself on Wednesday.

Shprygin claimed he and 28 other representatives of fan groups had been held near Cannes and put on a bus.

Dr Joel Rookwood, a senior lecturer in football business at Southampton Solent, says Russian hooligans will “prioritise fighting the English rather than watching their own team play”.

“For these very violent hooligans, it is a sport,” he told BBC Radio 5 live. “The battle for them is more significantly won off the pitch.”

“They’re very well organised and ruthlessly effective. They don’t seem to fear the police.”

Source: BBC

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