Back to the bad old days
The fan draped in an England flag on a debris- strewn street, strutting defiantly as a mob of supporters gathers nearby.
The only thing that points to the fact this isn’t some flashback from the 1980s is the smartphone clutched in his hand.
Amid such scenes of chaos in Marseille two English fans were left fighting for their lives and 11 were injured, as clashes raged in the city for the third day in a row.
Eyewitnesses described how fist fights and bottle- throwing broke out between English and Russian supporters before the two countries’ Euro 2016 fixture.
The scuffles left broken glass everywhere, with police resorting to tear gas and water cannons. Chairs from bars and cafes were smashed and used as weapons, while car windscreens were shattered.
Fans were seen being beaten to the ground and repeatedly kicked in the head, while horrifying images emerged of an England fan being given CPR by paramedics.
The Pr ov e n c e newspaper reported: “An England supporter is between life and death. The man who is in his 50s, who received a number of blows to the head, is in a critical condition. He suffered a number of injuries.”
Marseille police chief Laurent Nunez said: “Disorder broke out at about 18.30 at the Old Port. Hundreds of football supporters, mainly English, had gathered there and confronted the riot police.
“The situation deteriorated when rival hooligans from Russia arrived. Therefore police officers had to
Fans were left bloodied as trouble raged through debris-strewn streets. separate the gangs of English and Russian.
“Certain members of these groups were arrested, including seven England supporters.”
One middle- aged England fan was knocked unconscious after the Russian hooligans, some wielding knives, charged at the England supporters. He was kicked and punched to the ground.
His friend said: “He got knocked to the ground and kicked in the head for nothing.
“He was not doing anything when some lads attacked him – French, Russian, I don’t know who they were.
He added: “Then the police charged. They blame the England fans but we didn’t do anything.”
Fans’ representatives also moved to defend the English supporters, blaming policing tactics and the Russian hooligans.
Dave Tomlinson, from the Football Supporters’ Federation, who is in Marseille for the Euro 2016 fixture, said it was “disappointing to see any problems” involving England supporters.