TWO FANS ‘CRITICAL’ AFTER ENGLAND RIOT
T WO England football fans were reportedly in a critical condition in hospital last night after a third day of violent, bloody clashes on the streets of Marseille.
French police used water cannon and tear gas on rioters hours before the Three Lions were due to kick off their Euro 2016 campaign against Russia at the Stade Velodrome.
Fist fights and bottle-throwing broke out between the England supporters and their Russian and French counterparts in Marseille’s Old Port on yesterday afternoon.
French paper L’Equipe reported that two England fans were in a critical condition after the running battles in the square and on side streets, with a further 11 receiving minor injuries.
Social media was awash with pictures and phone video of savage violence in Marseille as the fans clashed, with chairs among items thrown and scenes of people being punched and kicked.
Broken glass lay strewn across the square and crunched underfoot as the police fired tear gas into the crowds, causing them to run.
Fans were seen being beaten to the floor and repeatedly kicked in the head.
One English fan was seen sitting on the floor covered in blood with a bandage round his head, while another man was reportedly given CPR and taken to hospital after an apparent cardiac arrest.
Police water cannons arrived to try to control the fighting as they struggled to hold back the different groups.
Bloodied fans were seen fleeing the scene as missiles continued to be thrown.
Some of the streets close to the port were left covered in streams of blood and broken glass.
Onlookers said the area looked “like a war zone”.
Hundreds of people were contained within the area by a long line of riot police.
Some people were “England” or “Russia”.
European football body Uefa, which organised the tournament, issued a statement condemning the violence but saying it could only take disciplinary action “for incidents which happen within the stadium perimeter”.
It added: “Uefa firmly condemns the incidents in Marseille. People engaging in such violent acts have no place in football.”
A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: “We are in contact with French authorities about a British national injured in Marseille and stand ready to provide further support.” chanting