88-PAGE EURO 2016 PULLOUT
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is that English fans were in part responsible for the terrible incidents at the end of the match. This is contradicted both by the video evidence and by the fact your independent disciplinary bodies have only instigated sanctions against the Russian Football Union.
‘ We believe the stewarding arrangements in place were unacceptable. Supporters were able to get in with fireworks and flares and then let them off, and there was insufficient segregation between the Russian and English fans.
‘A minority of English fans were clearly involved in some of those incidents away from the stadium on Thursday, Friday and matchday and that is extremely disappointing to us all. But please also recognise that tens of thousands have behaved in a positive way.
‘We have serious concerns around the security arrangements for the next few days. These concerns are heightened with the knowledge that Russia will play in Lille.’
Earlier in the day England captain Wayne Rooney and manager Roy Hodgson hadd jointly urged fans to stay out of trouble and not to go to Lens if they haveve not got a ticket for r the match.
In a video address released by the FA, Rooney said: ‘ I’d like to ask the fans, please, if you don’t have a ticket, don’t travel. And for the fans with tickets, bee safe, be sensible andnd continue with your our great support forr the players.’
Hodgson said: ‘As England manager I’m obviously very concerned about the threat which is now hanging over us and the sanctions that could possibly be imposed on the England team.
‘We worked very hard to get here and we desperately want to stay in the competition.
‘I’m appealing to you to stay out of trouble and try to make certain that these threats that are being issued are never carried out and we will be able to attempt to do the best we can to stay in this competition by football means.’
The FA of Wales have also urged their fans to stay away from Lens and Lille if they do not have tickets.
The situation is not being helped, however, by some astonishing statements coming from senior figures in Russia.
Igor Lebedev, who sits on the Russian Football Union executive committee, praised his thuggish compatriots for defending their country’s honour and argued that they should be forgiven.
He tweeted: ‘I don’t see anything wrong with the fans fighting. Quite the opposite, well done lads, keep it up. I don’t understand those politicians and officials who are criticising our fans. We should defend them and then we can sort it out when they come home.
‘What happened in Marseille is not the fault of fans, but about the inability of police to organise this kind of event properly. And if there had been no provocation from English fans, it’s unlikely our fans would have got into fights.’
Vladimir Markin, a spokesman for Russia’s equivalent of the FBI, used his verified Twitter account to suggest his French counterparts were unable to handle Russia’s ‘normal’ football fans in Marseille because they are more used to policing ‘gay pride parades’.
It is believed as many as 150 highly trained Russian hooligans descended on Marseille.
According to Wayne Nash, the head of security for the Wales team, the French authorities knew last week of a powerful group of Russiansian thuthugs travelling en masse to the Mediterraneannean port. AAnd there has been wwidespread criticcism at the way French police stay in their vehicles until there is an incident rather than integrate with fans to ensure ttensions do not get oout of control. NNash said: ‘We have askasked for extra patrols for theth England-Wales game. TThe French methodsd are different.diff It is not saying our way is best but this is a British game with a British culture and people will not be upset if they see officers in and around the stadium, as we are used to it.
‘ These things will be decided over the next few days and we will offer our knowledge and experience.’
Marseille prosecutor Brice Robin has put the blame for the carnage on the Russians.
He told a news conference: ‘There were 150 Russian supporters who in reality were hooligans. These people were well prepared for ultra-rapid, ultra-violent action.’
Remarkably, of the 10 people appearing in court in Marseille — six Britons, an Austrian and three French nationals — there were no Russians.
Robin said they had carried out lightning attacks which made arrests difficult and that CCTV images are still being examined.