The governing body has threatened damaging sanctions
UEFA have released a statement in which they have stated they will disqualify both England and Russia from the European Championships, should violence continue.
In what has been a tough first few days of Euro 2016 off the pitch, the governing body has been forced into action, having already charged Russia for crowd disturbances, racist behaviour and setting off fireworks inside the ground.
England and Russia fans, along with a number of local ‘football fans’ have been involved in clashes in Marseille, as the two nations prepared to face each other in the opening game in Group B.
Between three and five England fans have been left in a critical condition, after coming under attack in Marseille, while many more have been left with injuries; including one man who was left with cracked ribs and a black eye.
It has been reported by a number of England fans that the Russian thugs even dressed in England colours to disguise themselves amongst England fans, before beginning to attack supporters who were gathered in various areas of the city, drinking and dining out, prior to the match.
Further incidents broke out inside the ground, including flares being let off and Russian fans breaking through segregation to attack fleeing England fans.
“Uefa expresses its utter disgust for the violent clashes that occurred in the city centre of Marseille, and its serious concern for the incidents at the end of the match inside Stade Vélodrome,” read the statement. “This kind of behaviour is totally unacceptable and has no place in football.”
“Such unacceptable behaviour by so-called supporters of the national teams of England and Russia has no place in football, a sport we must protect and defend.
“The Uefa Executive Committee has warned both football associations that – irrespective of any decisions taken by the independent disciplinary bodies relating to incidents inside the stadium – it will not hesitate to impose additional sanctions on the Football Association [FA] and the Russian Football Union [RFU], including the potential disqualification of their respective teams from the tournament, should such violence occur again.”
While the English FA have yet to officially be charged with any wrongdoing, the governing body is hoping that their warning will send a strong message to fans, to stop the violence, otherwise risk spoiling the occasion for the whole nation.
