At least one England football fan arrested in Marseille after brawlPolice use teargas to disperse street clash with locals after supporters gather for England’s Euro 2016 match with Russia
At least one England football fan has been arrested and another is being treated in hospital after French police used teargas and batons to break up a fight with 70 locals in Marseille ahead of the first games in Euro 2016.
One supporter sustained a head injury in the brawl after being hit across the face with a wooden chair.
The fight broke out after 70 locals confronted England fans outside a pub in the southern port city at about midnight, according to the National Police Chiefs Council, which has been working with the French authorities to police English fans.
French police in riot gear accompanied by dogs fired teargas and used batons to break up the brawl. Police said one of the fans was arrested for assaulting a barman and the other for violent disorder. The NPCC, however, said only one England fan was arrested.
The council’s lead for football policing, assistant chief constable Mark Roberts, said: “At around midnight, there was a short confrontation where a group of approximately 70 local youths approached a pub where England fans had congregated. This was quickly dealt with by French police and one English supporter was arrested. We are aware of no further incidents overnight.
“English police officers continue to work closely with their French colleagues in Marseilles and will identify supporters who misbehave with a view to seek banning orders on their return to the UK.”
A source at the Foreign Office in London said it was aware that one fan was in police custody while another was in hospital.
Supporters have travelled to Marseille for England’s game with Russia on Saturday. The clash took place outside the Queen Victoria pub in the Old Port district after English fans set up camp there.
On Friday morning, teargas canisters could be seen lying on the floor alongside dozens of plastic cups. Armed police were seen patrolling the area before dawn.
Hours earlier, ambulances were seen arriving after police carrying riot shields moved in to separate the two groups and teargas was used to clear the area.
Geoff Pearson, a senior lecturer in criminal law at Manchester University, who witnessed the trouble, said the police response was “totally disproportionate”.
He tweeted: “Police have packed up having used half a dozen tear gas cannisters & some baton rounds. At best 3 chairs & 2 bottles thrown by England fans.”
But video footage suggested the trouble was more extensive. It showed fans hurling chairs, a fist-fight outside a McDonald’s and chanting England fans surrounded by police officers with dogs.
After the clashes, England fans chanted “Isis where are you?” according to one local reporter. The reporter, who gave his name as Nicolas, insisted he heard several England supporters make the chant. “After riots between fans, the English sing ‘Isis where are you’ the tension mounts,” he tweeted.
Kevin Miles, chief executive of the Football Supporters’ Federation, which runs the fans’ embassy in Marseille, said he believed the locals turned up with the intention of provoking the English supporters.
“There’s not huge numbers of England fans in town yet, probably the biggest congregation anywhere was outside this pub,” he said. “People were drinking and having a bit of a sing-song all day, the French police were very relaxed, letting them get on with it.
“It was all fine until, our understanding is, a group of around 30 to 40 locals turned up, I think with the intention of provoking the England fans to see if they could get a rise out of them. In those circumstances, it’s the police’s job to prevent a confrontation and they used French methods to do so, which we’re not particularly used to.
“They used teargas, which is a little bit indiscriminate for my liking, but it did the job and the problems were over. There were a couple of arrests of English fans as they responded to that provocation.”
In a statement, the FA said: “We are really disappointed by the scenes of disorder in Marseille yesterday evening and condemn such behaviour. It is in the hands of the authorities to identify those involved and deal with them appropriately.
“The FA urges supporters who are travelling to Marseille to act in a respectful manner and enjoy the match against Russia.”
Guardian
