Flare signalled Russian attack on England football fans

England fans have described how a flare fired above the pitch during match against Russia signalled the start of an attack.

An injured England fan is arrested after clashing with police ahead of the game against Russia in Marseille

England soccer supporters have described how a flare fired above the pitch during the team’s opening Euro 2016 match against Russia signalled the start of an attack by hundreds of hooligans.

Families fled as masked Russian thugs broke through feeble security cordons at the Marseilles stadium on Sunday morning (AEST) after hours of fighting in the historic heart of the city.

Dozens of England fans were injured, six seriously, during a third day of rioting. Two fans were left in a critical condition, including a middle-aged man apparently hit on the head by a police CS canister fired directly at supporters.

Russian hooligans gloated about the success of a carefully ­orchestrated series of attacks.

The flare which prompted the attack was fired from a gun which had been smuggled into the stadium despite assurances of strict security checks because of the terrorism threat during a French official state of emergency.

Minutes later, a large group of Russians charged towards a section designated for neutral fans but where many people were wearing England shirts. Supporters jumped over barriers to escape

Jamie Gibson, 13, said he would never watch England again after getting caught up in the attack at his first match.

“It was definitely pre-planned,” said Jamie, from Durham, who was with his father, Lee, 41. “Their faces were covered in masks. I was terrified they would come for us. The England supporters tried to get to the exit but other Russians had blocked them off.”

Paul Robinson, 48, a Liverpool fan, feared there would be repeat of the Heysel Stadium disaster, in 1985, which led to 39 deaths.

“There were men, women and children throwing themselves over the barriers and on to the (perimeter) netting to escape the Russians,” said Robinson, a father of two who is a member of the official England supporters’ club.

Russian hooligans celebrated their clashes in social media posts. Two posed with an English flag stained with blood. Others posted videos of graphic violence from what they called “the total victory of our hardcore over the English”.

Some were reported to have shouted “For our Masha!”, a reference to banned tennis player Maria (Masha) Sharapova.

Initial reports on Russian state TV about the violence in Marseilles bordered on the triumphant.

“English fans started the fight by attacking our fans, but 250 Russians from different corners of our country did not flinch and repulsed the attack by the heavily drunken islanders,” said one report. Russian Sports Minister ­Vitaly Mutko initially denied serious clashes had taken place.

John Townley, 59, attended the match with his wife, Elaine, 56, and sons Jon, 32, and Andrew, 30.

“After they scored, there was a firework and we saw the Russians charging towards the corner,” said Townley.

“There didn’t seem to be any proper segregation between the fans, just a row of stewards. They got into one section and just moved on to another.”

Elaine Townley’s new Clinique lipstick was confiscated during a body search at the stadium. “How did they let the Russians through with flares and fireworks? When there was a bang I thought it was a terror attack,” she said.

There are fears English and Russian supporters could meet again in Lille this week. Russia are due to play Slovakia in Lille on Thursday (AEST) and England meet Wales in Lens on Friday (AEST). The two towns are a 40-minute train journey apart.

Hours before the stadium attacks, George Amos, 29, and his brother, Harold, 26, were attacked in the port district. Harold had the imprint of a shoe on his forehead from where he had been kicked while unconscious.

“We were in the square by the harbour. Everybody was having a really good time singing and it was like a carnival,” said Harold. “Some Russian fans came past and started attacking people and throwing bottles. Then out of nowhere 300 Russians came running out of an alley. We didn’t have anywhere to go. The Russians were proper street fighters, they had gumshields and MMA (mixed martial arts) gloves.”

His brother said: “The Russians looked like the black death squad. They had these uniforms on. The police just stood there watching.”

Martyn Lowe, 28, suffered a serious eye injury and broken ribs. “At least three or four hundred Russians came marching through,” he said. “One of them hit me on the head with a bottle and as I reeled punched me in the face. I came to in the ambulance and I didn’t have any trainers on, they had stolen them.”

The Times