News / International
English fans clash with Russian fans
11 Jun 2016 at 22:55hrs | Views
Witnesses described Marseille as being like a
England fans have been embroiled in fresh clashes with police and rival supporters in Marseille on the day the team played its first Euro 2016 game.
The latest violence followed two nights of trouble in the French port city.
French police used tear gas for a third day and a water cannon. They say one Briton was seriously hurt in clashes.
There were also clashes in the stadium following England's 1-1 draw with Russia, after Russia fans appeared to rush at the England supporters.
BBC Sport's Phil McNulty, who is in the Stade Velodrome, said the England fans had been forced to clear the area.
BBC 5 live's Mark Chapman said: "The mood in the stadium until the last five minutes has been fine until about five minutes to go - at which point two flares were set alight in the Russian end. It then looked like a firework was launched from that end into the night sky and the mood in the stadium then notably changed."
A police spokesman said the Briton who was injured in the clashes before the match had been resuscitated by officers, but gave no further details.
A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We are in contact with French authorities about a British national injured in Marseille and stand ready to provide further support."
'Embarrassing'
Before the game fans had walked past ranks of police officers in riot gear on their way to the Stade Velodrome venue.
The great majority of fans appeared to be peaceful but there were reports of a few scuffles outside the stadium.
European football's governing body Uefa said it "firmly condemns the incidents in Marseille", adding that "people engaging in such violent acts have no place in football".
Earlier on Saturday, shadow home secretary Andy Burnham had said England fans' behaviour was "embarrassing", given the terrorism threat to France.
BBC News correspondent Nick Eardley, who is in Marseille, described the situation earlier as "pretty terrifying" as fans fought with Russia supporters.
He said he had witnessed bloodied England fans being "dragged away by police", to the sound of sirens blaring out across the city's main square.
Six arrested
Police told the BBC that six people had been arrested and at least five had been injured during the scuffles.
Local police chief Laurent Nunez told AFP news agency: "Police intervened in a clash between English, Russian and French supporters in the Vieux Port district."
Some British journalists in the area have described the scenes on social media, and pointed the finger at a gang of black-clad Russians, who they said had entered the port city's main square from a side street apparently seeking violence.
The latest violence followed two nights of trouble in the French port city.
French police used tear gas for a third day and a water cannon. They say one Briton was seriously hurt in clashes.
There were also clashes in the stadium following England's 1-1 draw with Russia, after Russia fans appeared to rush at the England supporters.
BBC Sport's Phil McNulty, who is in the Stade Velodrome, said the England fans had been forced to clear the area.
BBC 5 live's Mark Chapman said: "The mood in the stadium until the last five minutes has been fine until about five minutes to go - at which point two flares were set alight in the Russian end. It then looked like a firework was launched from that end into the night sky and the mood in the stadium then notably changed."
A police spokesman said the Briton who was injured in the clashes before the match had been resuscitated by officers, but gave no further details.
A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We are in contact with French authorities about a British national injured in Marseille and stand ready to provide further support."
'Embarrassing'
Before the game fans had walked past ranks of police officers in riot gear on their way to the Stade Velodrome venue.
The great majority of fans appeared to be peaceful but there were reports of a few scuffles outside the stadium.
European football's governing body Uefa said it "firmly condemns the incidents in Marseille", adding that "people engaging in such violent acts have no place in football".
Earlier on Saturday, shadow home secretary Andy Burnham had said England fans' behaviour was "embarrassing", given the terrorism threat to France.
BBC News correspondent Nick Eardley, who is in Marseille, described the situation earlier as "pretty terrifying" as fans fought with Russia supporters.
He said he had witnessed bloodied England fans being "dragged away by police", to the sound of sirens blaring out across the city's main square.
Six arrested
Police told the BBC that six people had been arrested and at least five had been injured during the scuffles.
Local police chief Laurent Nunez told AFP news agency: "Police intervened in a clash between English, Russian and French supporters in the Vieux Port district."
Some British journalists in the area have described the scenes on social media, and pointed the finger at a gang of black-clad Russians, who they said had entered the port city's main square from a side street apparently seeking violence.
Source - BBC
