Fans tear-gassed, arrests made as more violence flares at Euro 2016
AN AUSTRALIAN television reporter was sprayed with tear gas as violence between football thugs reignited this morning.
AN AUSTRALIAN television reporter has been sprayed with tear gas as violence between football fans heats up at Euro 2016.
Channel Nine’s Tom Steinfort said he has had bottles pelted in his direction and he and his cameraman are “in the midst of chaos” during clashes between fans in the French city of Lille.
The broadcaster’s chief correspondent for Europe, Africa and Middle East said there was trouble with both English and Russia fans.
Steinfort said they have not just had bottles thrown at them but someone even tried to pick a fight with his cameraman.
“It’s getting uglier and uglier....,” he tells the camera.
“There’s an alcohol ban in the city, I can tell you it’s definitely not working.”
Earlier Steinfort apologised for looking like a mess on air and said he copped the full fire of tear gas just seconds before going live.
Apologies for looking like a mess on air, copped the full fire of tear gas just seconds before we went on @TheTodayShow...ugly here in Lille
— Tom Steinfort (@tomsteinfort) June 15, 2016
Big explosion about 50m from us in central Lille. Riot police advancing on English fans again
— Tom Steinfort (@tomsteinfort) June 15, 2016
Really tense here - bottles being tossed in our direction, tear gas already fired https://t.co/0dzjRpzRQz
— Tom Steinfort (@tomsteinfort) June 15, 2016
Former English Premier League striker Stan Collymore was also caught up in the trouble after being tear-gassed by French police in Lille.
The football icon branded Russian thugs “f*** nuggets” as riot police stepped in to break up England and Russian supporters, The Sun reported.
Kicking off in Lille. Tear gas, spray and flash bangs being used. England fans, please stay safe, don't get us kicked out please.
— Stan Collymore (@StanCollymore) June 15, 2016
Three Lions fans reportedly chased Russians through the streets of the northern French city.
Ex-footballer turned pundit Collymore live streamed the ugly scenes through Periscope.
He started his report by saying he had heard a loud bang and followed a group of England fans “chasing Russians around the square”.
A gang of around 10 hardcore Russian “ultras” were seen running in the opposite direction.
Collymore saw riot cops firing tear gas on England fans who complained they had been targeted “for nothing”.
The trouble is believed to have been sparked by Russian thugs launching a flare at Brits.
However AFP reported a group of about 200 English fans had been getting progressively rowdier and noisier, singing songs taunting Russia, when a loud explosion was heard and some bottles were thrown.
Police appeared to make at least one arrest, pinning a man against the ground.
Police then charged, spraying tear gas in front of them as they ran. Some bystanders took refuge in a nearby pharmacy.
Several more arrests were made.
It is the fourth time England fans have been involved in violent incidents since the start of the tournament.
ARREST FURY
The violence comes as French authorities in Lille said 16 arrests have been made, including six Russians who were involved in violence last Saturday in Marseilles.
Another five people were arrested for public drunkenness on a train from London that was stopped before it got to Lille and then allowed to continue.
The arrests sparked a furious response from Russia’s Foreign Ministry who summoned the French ambassador to protest the detention of Russian fans in southern France.
The ministry said the decision by the Marseilles prosecutor to hold the Russians for 48 hours pending investigation was “discriminatory”.
It warned that “further fanning of anti-Russian sentiments over our team’s participation in the European Championship could significantly strain the atmosphere of Russian-French ties.”
The Russians were detained on Tuesday near Nice as they were heading by bus to Lille for Wednesday night’s (AEST) match against Slovakia.
Local authorities said police stopped the fans to see whether any hooligans were among them.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman said Moscow hoped governing body UEFA would give equal treatment to all those responsible for fan violence.
Spokesman Dmitry Peskov also voiced hope that the Euro 2016 will continue without any further “excesses”. UEFA has threatened to expel Russia and England from the tournament if its fans are involved in any more trouble.
The French police action in Lille followed violent clashes between Russia and England fans in Marseilles ahead of the 1-1 draw between the two countries on Saturday night.
Russia lost to Slovakia 2-1 overnight.
In Lille, Russian and Slovakian fans stayed clear of trouble as they left the Stade Pierre Mauroy and returned to the city centre after their match.
England play Wales in nearby Lens tonight (AEST).
Setting off a flare in the final 10 minutes of the game was the only notable example of misbehaviour by Russian fans.
RUSSIA WARNED
The incident could still be costly for the Russian Federation.
It had been warned that it will be kicked out of the competition if fans were to cause any more trouble after unrest at the team’s match against England last Saturday in Marseilles.
Before last night’s game in Lille, dozens of Russian and Slovakian fans were peacefully walking the streets in the Villeneuve d’Ascq area, a 10-minute walk from the stadium.
Fans from both nations mingled just outside the stadium and were taking pictures together.
The potential for further unrest remains as large numbers of English and Welsh supporters are in Lille ahead of their teams’ match in nearby Lens.
By early afternoon in Lille, there had only been seven arrests for public disorder. Among those arrested were Russians, Slovaks and a woman from Ukraine.
More than 2000 security forces were present in Lille for the Russia game.
Bilyal Kotkin, a Russian fan from Moscow, said Russian hooligans “need to be isolated. We need to close the borders on them because football does not go with force and violence.”
Riot police commander Olivier Dimpre told reporters outside the Flanders station they were looking for hooligan groups before they get into the town centre, saying riot police were ready for any disorder.
“Everything that could be done has been done,” Dimpre said.
English supporters sang unsavoury songs about Russia and songs about British pilots shooting down German planes in World War II.
‘Fantastic’; Kerr presence builds Matildas vibe
She can’t play and no-one knows exactly when she will but Sam Kerr just being around the Matildas in Perth is creating a special buzz.
FIFA probing racial abuse incident at World Cup
A Real Madrid player has accused an opposition player of alleged racial abuse in a fiery altercation that is now being investigated.
‘On track’: Positive pics for Kerr return
The hugely anticipated return of Matildas star Sam Kerr could be closer after she upped her training in Spain and is now back in Australia.