Season 15/16 - June

Russians attacked English and Welsh supporters at a bar in Lille - 14/06/2016

Source : www.dailymail.co.uk/

Russian 'ultras' have attacked English and Welsh fans in Lille this afternoon after 'hyper violent' thugs ignored UEFA's threat to ban their country from Euro 2016.

Chairs were thrown and a supporter was pictured lying on the ground outside a bar in the northern French city on the same day that Russia was fined and threatened with being thrown out of the tournament.

Concerns had already been raised about the security of fans as England prepare to take on Wales in Lens on Thursday and Russia play Slovakia in Lille on Wednesday, with the cities just 23 miles apart.

Witnesses said a group of Russians provoked English fans who were in a bar near Lille's central train station this afternoon before chairs were launched through the air. Two Russians have been arrested in the city centre.








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Source : http://www.irishtimes.com/

Mob of 'Russian ultras' attack English fans as they leave a pub before fleeing when French - 15/06/2016

Source : www.dailymail.co.uk/

This was the scene as Russian 'ultras' and England fans clashed during a fresh bout of violence in the centre of Lille.

French plainclothes police used pepper spray as two groups of men squared up in the northern French city - just hours after a separate flare-up at a bar.

Punches were thrown during the brawl in the early hours of this morning after England fans had left a nearby pub.

Euro 2016 - English - 14/06/2016

Source : Mail

Brighton


Stoke City



Derby County


Bolton


Sheffield Wednesday


Coventry



Barnet FC


Oldham


Northampton


Hull City


Bradford


Oxford

Russia - Slovakia - 15/06/2016

Source : http://www.stuff.co.nz/

French police reported seven arrests on Wednesday.









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Source : Mail

Last night...



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Source : Mail

Russians


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Source : Mail

Slovakia lads

Russian thugs have modelled themselves on the English club hooliganism which thrived 30 years ago - 14/06/2016

Source : Daily Mail

* Violence in Marseille was caused by highly organised groups of Russian thugs intent on causing swift and serious damage to English fans
* The organised nature of the attacks should not have been a surprise
* The fixture against England is the one they were probably most relishing
* The country's diplomats have shown indifference to their fans' violence
* England cannot claim to be rid of its hooliganism problem, but we have certainly been overtaken and by the hosts of the upcoming World Cup

The picture painted retrospectively by Marseille prosecutor Brice Robin of repellent scenes in his city on Saturday was not of Russian fans fighting tanked up English supporters in drunken skirmishes on the streets.

It was, at least in part, he said, highly organised groups of Russian thugs intent on causing swift and serious damage to English fans regardless of whether they were out for trouble or simply to enjoy the game.

This is not to say English fans should be absolved from blame. They played their part, by most accounts, with a faint throwback to the bad old days, throwing bottles and punches and singing hate filled songs to fan the flames. But at the weekend they were overtaken by a more pernicious brand of football thug.

Six Britons have been charged over violence in Marseille but incredibly only two Russians were arrested - and that was for pitch invasion - despite a 50-year-old English man fighting for his life in hospital with severe brain damage after being beaten around the head with iron bars.

There were, Brice noted, 150 'hyper violent' and 'hyper rapid' Russian hooligans involved in the bloody incidents on the streets of Marseille and in the stadium following the final whistle.

Because they came by train they were hard to stop, he said. The implication being that they are now on the loose and most likely bound for Lille where Russia play their next game against Slovakia on Wednesday.

The very real concern is that they will again collide with English fans who have been advised to stay in Lille ahead of England's match against Wales in the tiny nearby town of Lens on Thursday.

There are immediate questions about why UEFA and French security forces have not done more to prevent the violence they had a good idea would ensue but also longer term considerations about the rise of Russian football hooliganism and the suitability of the country to host the World Cup.

As Scott Rose, Bloomberg's deputy bureau chief in Moscow observed ominously via Twitter: 'These are the football fans who can afford to fly to France. You'll get to meet everyone else in 2018.'

The organised nature of the attacks on Saturday should not have been a surprise. In February a Russian hooligan named only as Yuri was quoted in The Sun newspaper glorifying Russian football violence and warning of what would happen at Euro 2016.

'We are hard men, many from the army and police,' he said, 'Not soft English men in their Lacoste clothes and girls' shoes. Fans from all clubs, Moscow, St Petersburg, anywhere, will all be on same side.

'We fight in the woods and train and fight at matches. England fans will have no chance. Russia is number one. We like beer and girls too just like you but fighting is number one.'

Watch a video easily available on YouTube of a lone, bald, beer-bellied man wearing a red top being set upon and kicked mercilessly by black shirted balaclava wearing Russians and it is difficult to see it as anything but Yuri's bloodthirsty prediction coming true.

Unfortunately England developed a reputation for leading the world in football hooliganism for many years and it is hard to shrug off.

For those Russian thugs who have arrived in France spoiling for a fight, the fixture against England is the one they were probably most relishing. Many have modelled themselves on the English club hooliganism which thrived 30 years ago with Burberry caps and Sergio Tacchini tracksuits uniform on the terraces.

James Appell, of the football blog The Cynical Challenge, travelled to Moscow in 2010 and reported on the rise of hooliganism in the domestic league: 'Tales such as those told by Dougie Brimson, along with films such as Green Street, which Brimson also wrote, and Football Factory, have helped to raise the profile of English football's hooligan traditions in Russia – even as these tendencies have rather fallen away amongst supporters in England.

'Many Russian fans I have spoken to during my time here continue to believe that at many clubs the gang violence of the 1970s and 1980s is alive and kicking,' wrote Appell.

'Ask young Russian fans – one I spoke to was as young as 13 – who their favourite English club is and, apart from the usual suspects (Roman Abramovich's Chelsea in particular), Millwall and West Ham tend to figure unusually prominently.

'The reverence on the terraces for England occasionally becomes outright mimicry. CSKA Moscow fans, for example, chant their club's name in English. Banners around Russian stadiums are often written in English.'

Football hooliganism really took hold in Russia after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. 'Firms' are now attached to all the country's major clubs with fights between rival sets of fans commonplace and often accompanied by nationalist or racist slogans and symbols.

In 2013 Spartak Moscow and Shinnik Yaroslavl were fined and ordered to play matches behind closed doors following violence at a cup match where Nazi banners were unfurled.

Players have been caught up in the violence as well. In 2012 a match between Moscow's Dynamo and St. Petersburg's Zenit had to be stopped after a fire cracker, hurled from the group of St. Petersburg fans, exploded at the feet of Dynamo's goalkeeper Anton Shunin, who was hospitalised with eye and ear injuries. This came just six weeks after a cup game between Torpedo and Dynamo had to be stopped for the same reason.

Firecrackers were somehow smuggled into Marseille's Stade Velodrome and launched by Russians at English fans on Saturday.

When they were charged at by Russians at the end of the game several English fans also claimed they were wearing mouthguards and knuckle dusters suggesting they had come prepared.

Some commentators think football hooliganism is being used as a vehicle for ethnic violence.

Yan Matusevic, a University of Oxford academic originally from St Petersburg and former Zenit fan wrote: 'Since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Russian football has seen rising inter-ethnic tensions spill over onto the terraces.

'Despite being home to clubs from all over Russia, an invisible, but highly sensitive divide splits the Russian Premier League, pitting those hailing from the mountainous – and predominantly Muslim – North Caucasus region against clubs based throughout the rest of the country.'

One anonymous fan was quoted in the Russian daily newspaper Kommersant: 'Once something major happens in the "national question", we'll show the world what a real fan movement is like. We're all just waiting for the right moment to act.'

It is little wonder that the hooliganism in Russian football has been allowed to fester and breed with the apparent indifference shown by some of the country's diplomats.

After Saturday's violence, with one of his countrymen being hauled away by French police after attempting to invade the pitch the Russian sport minister Vitaly Mutko – expert in turning a blind eye - was shown on TV clapping the country's fans.

Meanwhile back home the Deputy Chairman of Russian Parliament and member of the executive committee of the Russian Football Union (RFU), Igor Lebedev was also applauding their actions.

'I do not see anything terrible in fighting fans,' he said, 'On the contrary, well done, our guys. Keep it up!'

There are some brave voices, however, who are calling for change. A former general manager of the football club Rostov, Yuri Belous, urged Russia to follow Britain's blueprint.

'There have been precedents,' he told Kommersant newspaper, 'Britain has established ideal order. In Britain whole families now go to soccer matches and the sport is developing.

'But take us – who will invite one's girlfriend or wife to a soccer match, who will dare go there with children? It's just unsafe.'

After Saturday England cannot claim to be rid of its hooliganism problem as Rostov suggests, but we have certainly been overtaken and by the hosts of the upcoming World Cup, much to the shame of UEFA.

Euro 2016: Russia insider reveals hooligans are ‘more than Ultras’ who train for fights with martial arts - 15/06/2016

Source : http://www.independent.co.uk/

Exclusive: Kim Sengupta talks to a young Russian who explains how the culprits behind the Marseille thuggery are well-trained combatants unlikely ever to face sanction, and finds that some in the country are revelling in the violence

Nikolai cannot understand why so much fuss is being made about the violence during the Euro 2016 championship. He has, he said, seen far worse. That, indeed, is the case – the young Russian had served as a “volunteer” with separatist forces in Ukraine’s  bloody civil war.

Two years ago, at the towns of Slovyansk and Kramatorsk, in rebel eastern Ukraine, Nikolai had claimed to me that he was there to distribute aid and help those injured in the fighting, rather than take part in combat himself. Now he insists that he is in France simply to watch the football and not to seek any trouble.

The French authorities have announced that 29 Russian supporters were being deported following the strife in Marseilles before and during the game with England. Uefa has also fined the Russian Football Federation and imposed a penalty of suspended disqualification.

“They are trying to kick out more than 50 people, not 29 as they are saying, and this includes women. These people were travelling with the official party. If they are after violent troublemakers don’t think they have got the proper people,” Nikolai maintains.

“The French have already stopped six people from entering the country.  There was a charter flight to Marseilles from Russia when the French wouldn’t let these six people in because they said they were some kind of hooligan bosses. This was last Friday, the day before the game with England, but English fans had already been fighting by then and blaming the French supporters.

“So why is it just the fault of the Russians? They are now saying that there may be fighting in Lille. Russia is playing in Lille, not England. We are going there, so if the English turn up there, who is responsible for the provocation? People should be careful about provocation, some people get angry when they are provoked,” he warns.

“I am not denying there are Russian supporters who like a fight and some of them were being overaggressive. That shouldn’t have happened. But that is the same with English supporters and other nationalities as well. I was in Warsaw at the last one (Euro 2012) when we were attacked by Polish fans. It was a well-organised attack, lots injured, but there wasn’t much publicity about that.”

When I first met him two years ago, back in eastern Ukraine, dressed in camouflage uniform, Nikolai – in his late twenties, of medium height, physically fit but not steroid-muscled as some of the Russian football supporters look in France – had been happy to talk about his home at a southern suburb of Moscow, his deeply held Orthodox Christian faith, his previous service in Russia’s naval infantry and his empathy with the Donbass Peoples Militia. Now in Marseilles, in T-shirt and shorts, he does not want to go into any of that, because, he is convinced “the British media want to show all Russian supporters in a certain negative way”.

Nikolai wants to stress that he is not a member of an organised football gang, but, he says, he knows about football hooliganism in Russia and the motivation of the violent Russian fans. “Maybe it’s not known in the West, but the Russian authorities are actually quite hard on the gangs now. There isn’t much fighting in the stadiums and in the cities. They now have to arrange fights outside, in the woods. They train for these fights, they do boxing, martial arts, that is why they move in formations and can carry out ambushes,” he explains.

“In Marseilles they found themselves and the English were on the same streets. That’s how trouble started. Maybe the French should have studied how fighting supporters behave. The media have also got basic things wrong. They are calling everyone ‘ultras’. But the real fighters do not call themselves anything. The ultras just do a little bit of fighting and shout a lot.”

The Russian authorities may have clamped down on football hooliganism at home, but statements by officials have overwhelmingly ranged from defending the violence to glorying in Russian machismo. The day 49 people were murdered at the Pulse nightclub in Florida, Vladimir Markin, the spokesman for the Russian equivalent of the FBI, was declaring the fault for what happened in Marseilles lay with the French police: “A proper man comes as an amazement to them. They are used to seeing ‘men’ at gay parades,“ was his view of law enforcement.

So there is no incentive for those who are taking part in  trouble at the Euros – mainly supporters of Lokomotiv Moscow, Spartak Moscow, CSKA Moscos and Zenit St Petersburg – not to boast about their proclivity for violence as it is highly unlikely they will face any sanctions back home.

Videos and accounts of fighting  are being widely disseminated on Russian social media. One man, calling himself Molodoi, describes how “there were eight of us, moving around central Marseilles near the Old Port in two cars, bathing in the atmosphere of good old street violence”. There was a skirmish with English supporters, but “when they realised there were only a few of us, they got cheeky and swarmed us. Pure English style, but that is their right, our low numbers are our own problem.”

On The Orel Butchers website, a Russian football supporters' forum, there are colourful accounts of assaults and, at the same time, protests about the criticism received over the violence. One man has posted: “The British press are calling us animals, saying that their fans, women and children were running from us. But we all know the British are far from being children.”

In Nikolai’s view, “It’s a bit like the way it was in Ukraine. Those who boast the most are not the most dangerous, nor are they the leaders. The most dangerous ones, and the real leaders, are the ones not saying much and making sure their faces remain hidden.” A bit like Nikolai, some may think, but of course he was only there to enjoy the football.

Orel Butchers: The Russian hooligans terrorising Euro - 15/06/2016

Source : http://www.marca.com/

The group of Russian football hooligans at the centre of last Saturday's attacks on English fans in Marseille have made clear that they did not travel to France simply to cheer on their team.

"Storm over Europe. Tour de France. F**k Euro 2016," read the shirts of the 'Orel Butchers'

This is a group of violent thugs from the city of Orel, Russia, fans of FC Oryol that operate in the second division of the Russian football league.

They practice paramilitary techniques and urban warfare, which would explain the nature of the attacks in the Stade Velodrome.

English fans were forced to flee as dozens of Russian supporters charged and attacked near the end of the game, which finished 1-1.

The ultra group was founded in 1996 and their history of violence became notable soon afterwards.

Their strong nationalist sentiments grew throughout their formative years as they even released their own magazine entitled 'Testosterone'.

Dmitri Troxa, one of the supposed heads of the group, spoke in 2011 about their principles.

"We don't have a hierarchy or a division, everyone that wants to help is welcome," he said. "Those who don't want to participate or become tired, will not remain with us."

Second Three Lions supporter battered into a coma by brutal drug-fuelled Russian Ultras - 14/06/2016

Source : http://www.thesun.co.uk/

Leicester City fan Stewart Gray was attacked by mob in Marseilles on Saturday



Stewart Gray, of Hinckley, Leicestershire, was battered around the head in Marseilles where England were playing Russia.

The Production Planner, who works for Burnetts Manufacturing, was left with serious injuries after being pounced upon.

Many of the 150-strong Russian mob who went on the rampage in Marseilles were reported to be highly-trained martial artists off their faces on drugs.

Friends and family of the Leicester City follower are now trying to raise money for the horrifically injured football fanatic.

He has been in a coma since sustaining serious head injuries and remains in France.

The family man is showing the early signs of recovery but will be unable to work for a long while.

Money raised will go towards his mounting medical bills and help with his bills back home, says his family.

So far nearly £10,000 has been raised at https://crowdfunding.justgiving.com/j-b

His brother thanked all those that had already donated cash.

He wrote: “The family are overwhelmed by your support. We thank you for each and every one of the donations. DG’

On the page, Joe Murphy wrote: “You have to win this one mate . Everyone is thinking of you. We will get you home as soon as possible.”

Andy Essary added: “I do hope you pull through like our Pompey friend Pepe , plz keep us Pompey boys updated with progress. ”

Stewart is the second England fan left comatose by Russian thugs.

Ultras shouted “Die, die, die” and spat at innocent Andrew Bache – known as Pepe – as he lay unconscious while a cop gave him CPR.

The dad of one was battered up to five times with an iron bar or hammer ahead of England’s Euro 2016 opening clash in Marseille.

He had tried to run but the mob caught him, beat him and left him for dead. Fan Craig Lyons ran to his aid as up to 400 thugs swarmed the French city on Saturday lunchtime.

Tesco delivery driver Andrew, nicknamed Pepe, is still in a serious condition in hospital.

Hundreds of England fans are baton-charged and sprayed with tear gas in Lille - 15/06/2016

Source : http://www.dailymail.co.uk/

French riot police have fired tear gas and baton-charged England fans in Lille where 400 Russian 'ultras' have reportedly vowed to attack them.

Hundreds of fans surged from a pub where they had been chanting 'we hate Russia' before running through Lille city centre this afternoon.

Dozens of riot police then trailed them and, when the fans were corralled in a side street, fired tear gas to disperse them.

The violent scenes unfolded shortly after Russia were beaten 2-1 by Slovakia at the city's Métropole stadium.














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Source : Mail

English

Battles in Lille - 15/06/2016

Source : http://www.dailymail.co.uk/

French riot police armed with batons and tear gas charge crowds of baying England fans after hours of pitched battles in Lille as 16 are hospitalised and 36 arrested

Hundreds of fans surged from a pub where they had been chanting 'we hate Russia' before running through Lille city centre yesterday.

Officers made 36 arrests during violent scenes that unfolded in the hours after Russia were beaten 2-1 by Slovakia at the city's Métropole stadium.

Witnesses said they saw paramedics giving one fan CPR - though the supporter's nationality is not known and it is unclear how he was injured. Another fan was reportedly knocked to the ground before his head was stamped on while 16 more people were hospitalised in hours of pitched battles.

Talksport commentator and ex-footballer Stan Collymore was among those caught up in the tear gas amid chaotic scenes in the northern French city.

It comes as it emerged a 'really violent' fight between up to 15 England and Wales fans had broken out on a train from Calais to Lille - a day before the teams are due to meet in their second game of Euro 2016.

Romania - Switzerland - 15/06/2016

Source : Mail



Dinamo Bucuresti lads

France - Albania - 15/06/2016

Source : Mail

Plisat Prishtina lads



Bonus


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Knife fight in Lyon fan zone raises security questions

Source : http://www.thelocal.fr/

Supporters from France and Belgium were involved in a knife fight at the Lyon fan zone on Wednesday night, marking the first serious incident inside a fan zone during the Euro 2016 tournament.

The French fan was stabbed in the thigh, while the Belgian was stabbed in the buttock, reported Le Parisien, suggesting that there were at least two knives used during the attack.

Both stabbing victims were taken to hospital, although their injuries are said to be minor.

The clash raises questions as to how the supporters were able to bring weapons into the fan zone, despite the police security gates at the entrance.

The aggression kicked off before France scored two goals late in the match, apparently when France supporters were singing the Marseillaise, reported the Europe 1 channel.

"This is the first hit that we've had at a fan zone," a police source told the channel, adding that the fact supporters had managed to get knives inside was "worrying".

Police were called to the scene, but made no arrests, and the identity of the attackers for the moment remains unknown.

Officers however did arrest one person at the fan zone for letting off a smoke bomb.

A total of around 16,000 fans were at the Lyon fan zone on Wednesday, despite the rain.

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Source : Mail

Lyon lads

Belgium - Italiy - 13/06/2016

Source : Mail

RFC Liège lads lost their flag.

UEFA 'to assess' Lille violence which left 66 injured and dozens of England and Russian fans arrested - 16/06/2016

Source : http://www.mirror.co.uk/

Dozens of England and Russian fans have been arrested after more football violence at Euro 2016 left 66 people injured overnight.

French police arrested 36 people amid further clashes on the streets of Lille ahead of England's clash with Wales on Thursday afternoon.

Flares and bangers were lit as officers charged at chanting fans, spraying tear gas in an attempt to disperse the crowds.

UEFA said it "regrets" the continued trouble and said it will "assess" the situation today after warning England and Russia they face being kicked out of the tournament.

Police used pepper spray against an England fan who ran towards them, as fights appeared to break out among Three Lions supporters.

Authorities said 16 people have been treated in hospital but none are believed to be life-threatening.

Shocking footage showed brutal brawls in the street as a toxic mix of England, Wales, Russian, Slovak and even thugs from Paris St Germain were thought to be involved.

The two home nations will face each other at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis in the nearby city of Lens at 2pm UK time.

Many fans are staying in the much larger city of Lille and despite bars being shut, some supporters defied a ban on drinking in the street the evening before the match.

Some were seen climbing road signs and while English police - sent out to help with the security operation - urged fans to behave, French police charged at them repeatedly.

Late in the evening, two groups of about 250 English fans each merged just as thousands of French fans were streaming out of the fan zone where they had been watching France beat Albania.

Several hundred riot police formed a human barrier between the two groups. Some fireworks were fired from the French side and a few bottles were thrown from the English side.

The police then charged in the direction of the English, spraying tear gas and causing a stampede, with people sprinting into side streets.

Supporters of Slovakia and Russia were also in the city after their game in the city on Wednesday.

Earlier in the evening, a small group of people wearing Russian Ultra T-shirts threw a flare at a large group of England fans who then surged towards them.

The Russians left the scene and the remaining British fans were tear gassed, prompting them to hold their shirts over their mouths as they left the scene rubbing their eyes and spitting.






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Source : Mail

England - Wales - 16/06/2016

Source : http://www.thesun.co.uk/

FOOTBALL fans out in Lille have hit the bars to start celebrating early ahead of England’s historic match against Wales in the Euros this afternoon – with one arrest made already with hours still to go before kick off.








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Source : Mail

Fan zone in Paris




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Source : Mail

About 25 Belgian hooligans (Standard, Antwerp, Bruges) attacked England fans as they celebrated their victory in Lille's main square. Six hools were arrested.

Russian fans jailed for up to 2 years in France over Euro 2016 violence - 16/06/2016

Source : https://www.rt.com/

Three Russians have been jailed for up to two years by a French court for their role in clashes that took place in Marseille during the Euro 2016 football tournament in France, AFP reports.

Violence has marred the tournament so far, with large-scale unrest between England and Russia fans ahead of the two nations’ match in Marseille on Saturday.

That resulted in both nations being warned by UEFA that further unrest would lead to the two countries being expelled from the tournament, with the Russian Football Union also being handed a €150,000 fine and a suspended disqualification.

French police arrest 323 soccer fans for violence - 16/06/2016

Source : http://www.business-standard.com/

At least 323 persons were arrested following violent clashes between fans of rival soccer clubs in France, since the start of the European football tournament on June 10, an official said on Thursday.

Some 196 people were taken into custody, eight sentenced to jail terms and three given suspended sentences while 24 others would be sent home, Xinhua news agency reported an official as saying.

The ministry did not give details about the nationality of the expelled people but local media reported that they were all Russians.

They were accused of committing violent acts which left 35 people injured on the sidelines of the game between England and Russia on June 11.

Amid the rising risk of violence that could mar the big sports event, the interior ministry pledged full determination to continue these security actions throughout the competition.

Ukraine - Nothern Ireland - 16/06/2016

Source : Mail

Ukraine lads

Russian soccer hooligans attack tourists in front of Cologne Cathedral - 16/06/2016

Source : http://www.dw.de/

Six Russians have been arrested following an attack on tourists (spanish antifa) in the German city of Cologne. According to police, they were football fans making their way home from the Euro 2016 tournament in France.

According to German media reports on Thursday, a group of Russian soccer hooligans making their way home from the Euro 2016 tournament attacked and injured several tourists in front of the Cologne Cathedral in western Germany.

Six Russian nationals were arrested, authorities said, "on their way to the airport to fly back to Moscow this evening."

A seventh suspect, thought to be around 30 years old, evaded officers. A police spokesman said that the Cologne Airport had been informed that the seven men had tickets for a flight scheduled to leave for Moscow shortly before 9 p.m. local time (1900 GMT/UTC).

According to the city's "Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger" news organization, the assailants were wearing gloves and balaclavas.

The attack occurred in the early evening as the seven met set upon a group of tourists, reportedly from Spain, breaking the nose of one man and severely injuring two others.

The incident follows days of brawls between Russian and English fans in the southern French city of Marseille, which hosted the match between the two countries. Russia has been slapped with a fine and a final warning from UEFA, and French authorities arrested three Russian hooligans before deporting twenty others. Even after the Russia-England game had come and gone, some English fans continued the violence, clashing with police in the city of Lille.

Euro 2016 - 14/06/2016

Source : Mail

Steaua Bucuresti lads

Euro 2016 - 17/06/2016

Source : Mail

Hungary lads

Euro 2016: Vladimir Putin mocks 'thousands of England fans beaten up by 200 Russians' - 17/06/2016

Source : http://www.independent.co.uk/

Vladimir Putin has apparently poked fun at England football fans, as he questioned how 200 Russian supporters were able to beat up “several thousand” followers of Roy Hodgson's side at the Euro 2016 tournament in France.

Violent clashes erupted between English and Russian fans around the time of their match in Marseille on Saturday. Tear gas was used by French police on fans in the city ahead of the match, before Russian fans charged at England supporters in the Stade Velodrome after the game ended.

French police said a core group of 150 “hyper-rapid and hyper-violent” organised Russian hooligans travelled to the French city intent on causing violence and blamed them for the worst of the clashes. Other reports have varied to cite the number closer to 200, while sources told the Independent the number was around 300.

President Putin had not commented on the violence directly up until today where he dismissed, and perhaps mocked, the idea that a couple of hundred Russian “fans” were responsible.

Appearing at the economic forum in St Petersburg, the Russian premier said: "The fighting between Russian fans with the English, that is a disgrace.

“I don’t know how 200 Russian fans could beat several thousand of the British,” he continued, a comment reportedly met with laughs and applause from the audience.

On Wednesday, Uefa handed Russia a suspended disqualification over the violence and threatened the country would be thrown out of the competition if similar instances of violence happened again.

Mr Putin also appeared to refute Uefa’s threat to kick Russia, who are hosting the World Cup in two years, out of Euro 2016 by suggesting all “violators” must be treated the same.

“At the moment we see that there are many problems in sports,” the Russian leader said.

“The European football cup is taking place at the moment, but I believe that people are paying more attention to the fan fights.

“And I regret saying this. I regret seeing that people pay such importance to fan fights. I guess the responsibility for such acts should be as personalised as possible.

“And the way we treat the violators has to be the same. They have to all be equally treated.”

A number of Russian fans have been arrested and detained following the violence which led to French ambassador to Russia, Jean-Maurice Ripert, being summoned by Moscow.

A number of English fans have also been jailed, deported and banned from France for their parts in the violence. England captain Wayne Rooney pleaded with fans to avoid the violence in a news conference on Monday as did manager Roy Hodgson after Uefa also threatened to kick England out.

On Wednesday, 36 England supporters were arrested in Lille after clashes with French locals and police ahead of their match against Wales on Thursday, which they won 2-1.

Czech Republique - Croatia - 17/06/2016

Source : Mail

Torcida Hajduk Split


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Czech Republic comeback marred by Croatia flare and fan incidents

Source : https://www.theguardian.com/

Hooliganism has scarred the European Championship once more. Croatia fans fought among themselves and injured a steward with one of several flares thrown on to the pitch in Saint-Étienne and their team’s superiority over the Czech Republic disappeared amid the ugly scenes. Late goals from the substitutes Milan Skoda and Tomas Necid, the latter with a 93rd‑minute penalty, gave the Czech Republic a point that had appeared beyond them until Croatia self-imploded on and off the pitch

Not even the appeals of the Croatia captain, Darijo Srna, who played despite the death of his father this week, and the threat of abandonment halted the in-fighting among their supporters late in the second half.












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Chaos as Euro 2016 match is STOPPED after flares are thrown on the pitch and Croatia and Czech Republic fans clash in the stands

Source : www.dailymail.co.uk/

Croatian fans threw more than a dozen flares onto the field during the final moment of tonight's Euro 2016 game against the Czech Republic injuring one steward.

The team's coach Ante Cacic was furious following the violent scenes which seen the match suspended for five minutes while stewards removed the burning flares from the pitch.

Cacic described the violent fans as 'sports terrorists', before admitting Croatian authorities could not battle the hooligans by themselves.






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Source : Local press

Spain - Turkey - 17/06/2016

Source : https://www.mirror.co.uk + mail

Spain fans arrested for carrying neo-Nazi banners and flares ahead of Turkey Euro 2016 clash

11 spanish "ultras" (Ultras Sur, Brigadas Blanquiazules, Frente Bokeron and Ultras from Jaen) have been arrested at Euro 2016 for carrying neo-Nazi banners and for trying to bring flares into the stadium ahead of Spain's match against Turkey.

Uefa opens disciplinary case against Croatia for fans’ disorder at Euro 2016 - 18/06/2016

Source : https://www.theguardian.com/

Croatia have been charged over the crowd disturbances that marred the latter stages of their Euro 2016 match against the Czech Republic on Friday.

Flares were thrown on the pitch and fighting broke out in the Croatian end during their 2-2 Group D draw. The referee Mark Clattenburg was forced to stop the game with four minutes left while a steward was almost hit by a firecracker, as was Croatian goalscorer Ivan Perisic.

Croatia’s coach, Ante Cacic, described the individuals responsible for the trouble as “sports terrorists” and European football’s governing body has now confirmed the opening of disciplinary proceedings against the national federation.

Uefa say the charges relate to racist behaviour, crowd disturbances, throwing of objects on the field, and setting off fireworks.

Croatian president Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic has called for a government session to discuss the fan disturbances. Grabar Kitarovic, evoking for the first time her constitutional right to call urgent government meetings, said the country must adopt new stricter laws against hooliganism in the sport. The session could be held early next week.

The Croatian FA has apologised for the behaviour of fans but blamed the government at home for not stopping hooligans travelling to France. The federation said it also “warned Uefa and French police about the hooligans’ intentions to interrupt” Friday’s game.

Uefa’s disciplinary panel will meet on Monday to judge charges relating to the disorder and also fans’ far-right chants and banners. The federation says the incidents resulted from “the passivity of the Croatian state” which it blamed for not identifying and punishing fans involved in previous incidents over several years. “We apologise to the spectators at Saint-Étienne, to the television audience, and the Czech Republic national football team,” read the statement.