It seems pretty clear to me that young English thugs, posing as football supporters, have rioted for the last three days in Marseilles and targeted Russian supporters who've responded in kind. I thought the Police were supposed to prevent this kind of behaviour by identifying trouble-makers and stopping them travelling. Our reputation as a sporting nation is once again shot to hell.
You need to rub your eyes and take another look. English supporters have been attacked by French (Arab) nationals and a co-ordinated attack by members of a Russian ultras group consisting of fans from Spartak Moscow and CSKA Moscow. The Press Association have announced that there will be an inquiry into the violence inside the ground at the end of the match, where Russian supporters overwhelmed a line of stewards and entered the England enclosure. They suggest that the provocation has come from the Russians, with the England support vaulting fences to get away. 23:43 HERE'S WHAT'S BEING REPORTED After a third straight day of fighting in the Mediterranean port city, violence spread to the Stade Velodrome at Saturday's game. After the 1-1 draw, a large group of Russian fans in one of the stands behind the goal advanced on England supporters in the neighboring area, throwing objects and breaking through a line of stewards. England fans fled for the exits. When UEFA's disciplinary panel judges the latest incident in Marseille, it could take Russian fans' track record of violence into account, including at Euro 2012 when stadium security staff were attacked in Poland. 23:40 BREAKING NEWS Press Association: UEFA are to open disciplinary proceedings over the fan violence in Maresille. They say Russia are facing stronger sanctions after Russia fans attacked England supporters in the stadium after the final whistle. I'm not condoning the actions of elements of England's supporters. I'm just suggesting that the automatic assumption that the violence was initiated by England supporters be reviewed before doling out the blame for this.
Chris, I appreciate that today's violence in the stadium looks like it was started by Russian "fans". But I also read that English "fans" arriving in Marseilles yesterday and the day before were hitting the bars before going after anyone who was vaguely foreign, like Johnny Frenchman.
What bit of them breaking through the tarpaulin barrier and launching a coordinated attack made it 'look like' the Russians started it? I've also seen plenty of footage of Russian, French and English fans mingling peacefully with each other and posing for selfies together. I watched a TV program a few months ago where an 'ultra' gang from CSKA Moscow warned that they were teaming up with Spartak and Lokomotiv fans to wreak havoc at the Euros, with the English and Polish fans as the main targets. I have no doubt that the England supporters responded in typical fashion, but I think were they to be thrown out of the Finals, the truth will out when the violence continues despite our absence. The Ukranians, Poles and Swedes have yet to make their debut in this Euro-punch-up
From Sky Sports: Marseille Violence: City 'Like A Battlefield' Witnesses describe gangs looking for English fans to attack, with tear gas fired and bottles thrown as violence flares once more. 21:52, UK,Saturday 11 June 2016 Witnesses described Marseille as being like a "battlefield" The scene in the French city of Marseille has been described as being "like a battlefield", after England fans clashed with Russian supporters on the streets. French police fired tear gas and used water cannon on fans on a third day of unrest in the lead up to the Three Lions' first game of Euro 2016. The match ended with a 1-1 draw at Marseille's Stade Veledrome. Sky's Sports Correspondent Paul Kelso said a gang of what appeared to be Russian supporters stormed into the old port area of the city, looking for English fans to attack in the hours before kick-off. He said: "A gang of what appears to be Russian supporters, hooligans, very well organised, stormed into the old port area and looked for English fans to attack. "Bottles being hurled at England fans and what appears to be a lack of containment. Lots of injuries. Head injuries. Some nasty cuts and the police, whatever tactics they tried to employ, clearly hasn't worked. "For the second time in more than 18 years, Marseille looks more like a battlefield." At least five people have been wounded in the violence, with six people arrested. TV footage showed fans throwing chairs taken from restaurant terraces and fighting on a stairway, where one man was seen kicking another down the stairs. Sky's Siobhan Robbins said she saw 300 youths storm down a street in the same part of the city. Robbins said she had been told they were local French youths. She said: "We saw chairs being thrown, we saw bottles being thrown, tables being thrown. Video: Football Fan Chaos In France "There were some fairly bad injuries as well. "A man with blood running down his face. He said he had been attacked by local French people." One French fan who called himself Hakim, told Sky News: "I was with English fans and we were singing. "After, we were seeing maybe 250 people coming. They weren't afraid and they wanted to fight with English fans. "I've seen a lot of blood - English blood. It will be very, very not good."
Trouble is the press (english mainly, strangely) seem hell bent on blaming the english for everything. I did a quick google search on this and the first 2 pages of uk press blame the english fans with no real mention of what Chris posted above. Don't get me wrong I know there is a small contingent of brits who go over spoiling for a fight but it amazes me the british press ignore the fact there are packs from other countries including the home nation going out to intentionally provoke the english fans into fighting. Chris has found the right balanced view reports
Looking at the news this morning it seems that a lot of this is pre-meditated and being caused by Russian supporters.
Definitely the English fans should not be banned for a couple of reasons; 1. Why let a minority of supporters spoil it for the majority of loyal well behaved supporters. 2. It is apparent that it is not just the English fans to blame for the recent incidents, the Russians and local French supporters are equally as bad. Everyone wants to bash the English fans because of their reputation.
Russia charged with 'crowd disturbances, racist behaviour and setting off of fireworks' in Marseille as UEFA open disciplinary case but England are NOT facing investigation
All to easy for a bunch of liberals to jump on the sensational headline making when not fully versed with the facts.
Erm, it seems that UEFA has determined that English "fans" are equally culpable. I've just returned home from the local celebrations of Philippine Independence Day to find this: BREAKING NEWS: UEFA threatens to ban England from Euro 2016 if violence continues
Are EUFA the same as UEFA,pretty awful scenes across the whole of the last 3 days England so called supporters have a reputation and others goad them,no excuse any arrested should be banned from travel
I love Football, my Dad was a part time professional with Hibs and my brother-in law was a professional footballer with Bolton Wanderers. My brother and I had trials with Man city, Preston and Bolton. Did not make the grade but we both played for good amateur teams. But this sort of football fans, I really hate spoiled the game in the 70's, 8o's and England have got themselves a bad reputation, The Euro's is a breeding ground for the right wing thugs of Nazi Poland and Russia. Would not bother me at all if the Euro championship ended.
1) Why were the two rival sets of thugs allowed to confront each other? 2) I thought we send undercover cops with English supporters?
I believe that there are one or two British Police Officers in France but I'd not be surprised if the nearest they get to a football ground is the TV set in their taxpayer-funded five star hotel room in Paris.
British Police have been assisting Le Plod in coordinating their strategy, but have complained that their advice is being ignored. I agree that England supporters should be on a 'yellow card'. They are not entirely without blame in this, and being attacked can't be used as an excuse for having a riot. I hope that the French can learn from mistakes that they have made, monitor the situation with more vigilance to prevent clashes, and when they do occur, respond in a more appropriate fashion. I've been looking forward to watching four of the five 'home' nations (if the Irish can forgive their inclusion). The thing is, politically, expelling Russia would be like setting off a grenade. They are to host the next World Cup in just two years. Perhaps Russia's expulsion is what is needed in order to ensure that the World Cup passes without major incident, but I doubt that anyone at UEFA HQ has the balls to swing the axe. The next two World Cups are going to be utter crap. Russia, with its thuggery, and Qatar with its blanket ban on having fun.
I had quite an argument, I mean disscussion on facebook last night about this. A scottish nationalist that I briefly worked with who is very quick to post any headline that portrays england in negative light was instantly calling for england to banned. I pointed out to him that, whilst hooliganism is obviously wrong why single out england when it was obvious that england was targeted by russian and french fans both inside and outside the stadium and since the tournament began. If he read more reports than the usual reactionary tosh and by that I mean most tabloid english papers who are so negative to england in any sporting event which i've never fully understood. By his logic these 2 other nations would also have to be banned. Now I'm not saying that there isn't a small minority of english fans who are obviously up for a ruck and have caused trouble, injury and damage and they obviously should be stopped from games and charged accordingly by the authorities. My main issue is if there is supposed to be ultra tight security due to the current terrorist threat then how did russian fans manage to get numerous flares etc into the ground? Where was the security inside the ground to prevent what happened when russian fans stormed the english fans? Also it seems to have been largely ignored that several hundred russians have been going round tooled up looking to kick off against the english. French fans have also been singling out the english as well. Also Russia and Qatar hosting the next 2 world cups will be a complete mess and to me shows how corrupt FIFA where / are to allow 2 countries with their track records to host such events.
I agree John, but when I see the thugs (English) retaliate by throwing chairs and bottles, it really bothers me. Then inside the ground the feeble attempt of the French security to segregate the two set of fans, which seems obvious the Russians climbing over the thin line of stewards attacking English fans. I'd love to see the world cup being taken from Russia.
