Euro 2016: UEFA threatens to disqualify England and Russia
Tue Jun 14, 2016 02:09:pm Sports
2.4K By Buchi Obichie
Following violent clashes between English and Russian fans at the ongoing Euro 2016 Championship, European Football Governing Body, UEFA, has warned both that they could be thrown out of the competition if their fans are involved in more violence.
Dozens of people were hurt in three days of clashes in Marseille and at the Stade Velodrome after the England-Russia match on Saturday which ended in a 1-1.
UEFA earlier charged Russia with misconduct over the role of its fans in the unrest.
Meanwhile, English Football Association, Chief Executive, Martin Gleen, described the violence as the worst he had seen for decades.
In a statement,UEFA expressed its utter disgust for the violent clashes that occurred in the city center of Marseille, and its serious concern for the incidents at the end of the match inside Stade Velodrome.
The French Interior Minister, Mr Bernard Cazeneuve, called the fans' behavior barbaric and said it was "absolutely necessary that national federations whose supporters create incidents of this nature be penalised".
The Marseille police said at least 35 people were injured and emphasised that four of them were in serious condition on Saturday.
They added that eight people were arrested, including British, Russian and French citizens.
The British government said in a statement that six British nationals were hospitalised and several others had received treatment.
"The UK Government is deeply concerned by the violence in Marseille last night, including reports that in some cases England fans were attacked by rival supporters," it said. "We condemn the violence and urge calm on all sides."
It said it welcomed UEFA's launching of an investigation into the violence at the stadium, and had offered to send additional British police to France ahead of England's next match, against Wales in Lens.
Dozens of people were hurt in three days of clashes in Marseille and at the Stade Velodrome after the England-Russia match on Saturday which ended in a 1-1.
UEFA earlier charged Russia with misconduct over the role of its fans in the unrest.
Meanwhile, English Football Association, Chief Executive, Martin Gleen, described the violence as the worst he had seen for decades.
In a statement,UEFA expressed its utter disgust for the violent clashes that occurred in the city center of Marseille, and its serious concern for the incidents at the end of the match inside Stade Velodrome.
The French Interior Minister, Mr Bernard Cazeneuve, called the fans' behavior barbaric and said it was "absolutely necessary that national federations whose supporters create incidents of this nature be penalised".
The Marseille police said at least 35 people were injured and emphasised that four of them were in serious condition on Saturday.
They added that eight people were arrested, including British, Russian and French citizens.
The British government said in a statement that six British nationals were hospitalised and several others had received treatment.
"The UK Government is deeply concerned by the violence in Marseille last night, including reports that in some cases England fans were attacked by rival supporters," it said. "We condemn the violence and urge calm on all sides."
It said it welcomed UEFA's launching of an investigation into the violence at the stadium, and had offered to send additional British police to France ahead of England's next match, against Wales in Lens.
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