“Most of them want to watch good football”.
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Russian Federation again came close in the 28th minute when Dzyuba fed Smolov in an advanced position, but the number 10’s effort just shaved the outside of the Slovakia post.
A group of several hundred English fans drinking in local bars had been getting progressively rowdier and noisier, singing songs taunting Russian Federation, when a loud explosion was heard and some bottles were thrown. England is playing Wales on Thursday in nearby Lens, and many British fans are staying in the bigger city of Lille, which is on a direct rail line from London and Marseille.
The bang caused the crowd to surge forward and they dispersed as police fired tear gas.
Mounted police quickly arrived on the scene as the England fans regrouped and began to chant again.
French authorities in Lille said police made 16 arrests, including six Russians involved in violence last Saturday in Marseille. Five people traveling to France on a train from London were arrested for public drunkenness.
In a week where it was threatened with expulsion from the tournament and its fans criticized for their behavior, Russia’s football players did little to convince they will be remaining in France at Euro 2016 much longer.
The ministry said the decision by the Marseille prosecutor to hold the Russians for 48 hours pending investigation was “discriminatory”.
Dzyuba directed a header towards the bottom corner in the 23rd minute as Russian Federation continued to dominate the match aerially, but Slovakia goalkeeper Matus Kozacik was on hand to make the save.
He claimed groups of England fans could be seen looking for Russians who were throwing bottles and other items.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says some Russian fans have behaved “unacceptably” but said that it is impossible to ignore “outrageous provocations” by English football fans.
Dmitry Peskov also voiced hope Wednesday that the Euro 2016 will continue without any further “excesses”.
The latest violence came after Uefa handed Russian Federation a suspended disqualification from the tournament following the crowd disturbances at the game in Marseille on Saturday.
Russian Federation and Slovakia will now turn their attention to their other Group B rivals England and Wales, who play in Lens on Thursday.
Slovakia are seeking their first points of the tournament after an opening 2-1 defeat to Wales. The match at the 50,000-capacity Stade Pierre Mauroy is not quite sold-out.
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Setting off a flare in the final 10 minutes of the game was the only notable example of misbehavior by Russian fans.
