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Russian fans jailed for up to two years for Euro 2016 violence

After 150 “extremely violent” Russian hooligans stalked the streets of Marseilles looking for British fans this past Saturday, bloodying them with truncheons and sometimes knives, French authorities had a straightforward response: They stopped a busload of the suspected hooligans on Tuesday, detaining all 43 people on board, as they left Marseilles for Russia’s next match in Lille.

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To many around the world, tear gas and water canon, which were also used to disperse fans in Marseille, give an impression of massive civil unrest.

He was filmed shooting and gesturing on the video, which also showed acts of violence. He denied playing any role in the violence.

“No, it didn’t have any impact at all”, Slutsky said.

“I feel that the media and political context could have interfered with the pronouncement of this sentence”, Chloe Gobet told reporters.

UEFA, European football’s governing body, has given Russian Federation a suspended disqualification and a 150,000 euro fine for disorder in the game against England in Marseille.

“We have spent almost 24 hours in the deportation center”.

“We’ve filed an appeal against our removal”.

The French authorities said the other 20 supporters in the group are to be freed.

The arrest of the Russians turned into a diplomatic incident when Moscow summoned France’s ambassador in protest, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov describing the arrests as “absolutely unacceptable”.

The leader of the Russian soccer supporters’ association is being expelled from France following violence during the Euro 2016 tournament. Of particular concern to Europe’s governing body is that Russian fans stormed a section of English fans inside the stadium.

On Tuesday, the Euro 2016 governing body UEFA threatened to throw Russian Federation out of the tournament if its fans stir up more ruckus inside stadiums.

UEFA says England’s participation in the European Championship is under no immediate threat despite a fresh outbreak of fan violence.

After the game, clashes between Russian and English fans erupted at the stadium and in the port town. Police said about 50 people were hurt, 16 of them hospitalised.

On June 11, the Russian national football team played in a draw with England in the French city of Marseille.

But he said he would not look for confrontation with Russians.

Six Russian hooligans arriving from southern France have been arrested in Germany after beating and kicking Spanish tourists, injuring one of them seriously, police said Friday.

Images of Robocop-style riot police amid clouds of tear gas to a backdrop of sirens and defiant chanting suggested Lille was in meltdown on Wednesday, yet some of those involved have suggested it was more of a cross-cultural misunderstanding.

Just as he had in Wales’s opening 2-1 win over Slovakia, Gareth Bale put Chris Coleman’s side ahead, hitting a long-range free-kick that England goalkeeper Joe Hart could only fumble into the net. “What’s happening is the police are trying to enclose people”, an English fan told Reuters.

The bedlam hasn’t been restricted to England and Russians.

Two separate reports have emerged of a small number of England fans mistreating poor and homeless children in France.. The supporters were transferred to Marseille.

Euro 2016 fans have once again clashed with French police.

Superintendent Nigel Goddard said: “Our thoughts are tragically with a second family this week mourning the devastating loss of their loved one”.

After a tense stand-off at about 10pm, police rushed at a group of approximately 200 rowdy supporters who were singing and setting off flares outside a pub.

The fan zone will be open on Thursday but the Lyon prefect will meet with the company in charge of its security and UEFA officials to strengthen safety.

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English fans accused the police of being heavy-handed and shouted “shame” at the heavily armoured forces.

Euro 2016