Some 150 Russians were behind much of the violence that erupted in Marseille when Russia played England in Euro 2016, French prosecutors have said.
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With the tournament facing new high risk games, French authorities said three people remained in serious condition in hospital in Marseille after clashes before and during Saturday’s game.
The Russians were charged with “crowd disturbances, racist behaviour and setting off of fireworks” on Sunday but England have now been issued with a strongly-worded warning, too.
European soccer’s governing body UEFA said it was “disgusted” by melees inside and outside the stadium in Marseille and has threatened to expel Russian Federation and England from the championship if the violence persists.
England supporters, however, were at the heart of days of street clashes in Marseilles’ Old Port district, which also involved French and Russian fans and left at least 20 people injured.
“The UEFA Executive Committee would like to express its disgust at the violent clashes which occurred in the city of Marseille”.
Uefa’s pointed threat put the onus firmly on the Football Association to control England’s travelling support, resulting Monday’s direct plea ahead of the Group B showdown with Wales in Lens on Thursday.
Hodgson said: “As England manager I am very concerned about the threat now hanging over us and the sanctions that could possibly be imposed on the England team”.
“We worked very hard to get here and really desperately want to stay in the competition”.
But he said just two Russians had been arrested, both for a pitch invasion.
Ten people, including Russians, French, German and Austrian nationals were arrested, police said. It can hold up to 25,000 supporters, and it is estimated that as many as 100 000 Welsh and English fans – most without tickets – will be in the area. But he laid the blame on the match organisers for failing to separate supporters.
Extra strength 10.5% lager was being blamed for the rise in violence between fans as drunken fans guzzeled it down for less than a pound a can. “We need to defend them: they’ll come home and then we’ll work out what happened”.
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“We understand the potential implications of our supporters’ actions and wholly accept that every effort needs to be made by The FA to positively urge them to act in a responsible and respectful way”.
