Masked Russia supporters charged at England fans, punching and kicking them, after the final whistle of the 1-1 Group B draw at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille on Saturday.
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A far-right Russian activist has said that a group of Russian football supporters was in the process of being deported from France on Tuesday over its role in the violence that marred the opening matches of the Euro 2016 tournament.
Russian Federation will be expelled from the tournament if its fans attack rival fans or stadium security staff at its two remaining Group B matches, or later at Euro 2016 if the team advances.
“We don’t want to be disqualified, we understand that things happen but this is the 20th century”, he said when asked about the UEFA sanction, with Russia’s Football Union having already confirmed they will not appeal.
Uefa’s control, ethics and disciplinary body met in Paris to consider the case and imposed the suspended disqualification and a €150,000 financial penalty.
The RFU was fined and given a suspended six-point deduction for its Euro 2016 qualifying campaign after fans assaulted stadium security staff and displayed illicit banners at the 2012 tournament in Poland and Ukraine.
The governing body said the disqualification would take effect if the fans caused more trouble inside a stadium at any of Russia’s remaining matches.
Answering an urgent question in the Commons on Tuesday, Home Secretary Theresa May said British police officers known as “spotters”, trained to identify troublemakers, have been sent to France.
Russia coach Leonid Slutsky appeared unwilling to overtly condemn any involvement of Russian fans in last weekend’s violence.
They were heading towards the northern city of Lille and were suspected of being involved in the Marseille violence.
If Russian fans continue fighting, UEFA warned, Russia may be forced to forfeit the tournament.
RFU president Vitaly Mutko, who is also sports minister, told Russia’s TASS news agency “A disciplinary decision has been made and we are waiting for an official notification”.
The Federal Criminal Police Office on Tuesday called for witnesses to submit material via its website at http://www.bka-hinweisportal.de/index.pl?lang=en and said the portal will remain in place for other games at the tournament. A number of the fans are now in a stand-off with police, who stopped their bus as they prepared to travel to Russia’s next match.
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Russian fans set off fireworks and surged into an English support section during Saturday’s 1-1 draw. The stadium ban would have been activated if fan violence during qualifying matches was repeated.
