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Three Russian fans jailed, 20 face deportation for violence
MARSEILLE: After a week of violence at the European Championship, France sentenced three Russian fans to prison and planned to deport 20 others next week for their
MARSEILLE: After a week of violence at the European Championship, France sentenced three Russian fans to prison and planned to deport 20 others next week for their role in the violence in Marseille that marred Russia’s opening match against England.
Sporadic violence has since moved to northern France, where Russia played Slovakia on Wednesday and England played Wales on Thursday. But nothing as bad as the violence witnessed last week in the south.
Among the three Russians given prison terms is Alexei Erunov, the director for fan relations at leading Russian club Lokomotiv Moscow. He was sentenced to two years.
Part of the evidence against Erunov was footage filmed by another Russian fan and posted online. Erunov was seen shouting and gesturing on the video, which also showed acts of violence. He denied playing any role in the violence.
Dynamo Moscow fan Nikolai Morozov also received a 12 months sentence and Sergei Gorbachev, the director of a construction company in the central Russian city of Tula, received 18 months.
TEAR GAS
French police repeatedly fired tear gas and baton charged England and Russia fans in Lille.
Tens of thousands of English, Welsh, Russian and Slovakian supporters took over the city and sporadic brawling erupted between rival groups as a day of heavy beer-drinking took its toll.
Anxious to avoid the 35 injuries caused by scuffles in Marseille on Saturday, each time serious trouble loomed a legion of riot squad, gathered behind shields, charged firing tear gas and flash bombs.
The scene was repeated across Lille into the night.
