Sunday 12 June 2016 15:42, UK
UEFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Russia over the behaviour of their supporters at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille.
The governing body are investigating crowd disturbances, racist behaviour and setting off fireworks after Russia supporters broke through a partition inside the stadium and attacked England fans at the final whistle of the 1-1 draw on Saturday.
The incident followed violent brawls on the streets of Marseille for a third day prior to kick off, with England fans testifying to gangs of Russian hooligans attacking them at will, leaving two critically ill in hospital and dozens injured.
Sky Sports News HQ has been told that Russia's punishment could be "severe", with a points deduction a possibility.
And Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko agreed the investigation was the right course of action, stating: "As hosts of the future World Cup we need to preserve our image and people shouldn't spoil it. That's the worst thing."
Supporters of England, French clubs including Olympique Marseille, and police clashed in the Vieux Port area throughout the afternoon on Saturday, with police struggling to restore order with the use of tear gas and a water cannon.
In one episode a man was kicked repeatedly in the head and apparently required resuscitation. In another, a fan was struck on the head with a chair and crumpled to the ground.
England fan Ben McDowell told Sky Sports News HQ: "As we got closer to the ground, I could see a row of Russian fans marching down the row towards the England fans. They had masks on and I could see it was going to kick off.
"Before I knew it, a bottle got smashed and tear gas went up in the air, and me and some friends got caught up in it. We had to make tracks to get out of their quickly.
"It was disappointing because the England fans were just there, it was a good atmosphere, not a hostile one at all, but then the Russia fans turned up and it ruined it just before the game."
On the same night, violence broke out in nearby Nice, with unconfirmed reports of local Nice 'Ultras' attacking Northern Ireland and Poland fans ahead of their Group C match on Sunday.
Regional authorities said in a statement that nine people were hospitalised, including a woman who suffered cranial trauma, and three people were arrested.
Concerns have now been raised over security arrangements for England's second Group B match against Wales in Lens on Thursday, which is preceded on Wednesday with Russia playing Slovakia in Lille - less than 30 minutes away by train.
UEFA are unable to do anything about events in the city centre but have said its Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body will decide the matter of events inside the stadium - its jurisdiction - on Tuesday June 14.
Their statement on Sunday read: "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 Velodrome. This kind of behaviour is totally unacceptable and has no place in football.
"Disciplinary proceedings have been opened against the Russian Football Union (RFU) for the following events occurring inside the stadium. A decision on the sanctions to be imposed will be made within the next few days, once the RFU has been able to submit written statements and evidence.
"UEFA acknowledges that there were segregation issues at Stade Velodrome and will implement corrective measures to strengthen the deployment of security personnel at stadiums, in close collaboration with local authorities."
FIFA said in a statement: "We strongly condemn any form of violence and find it wholly unacceptable to see such shameful scenes around football matches perpetrated by a minority of idiotic troublemakers, who have nothing to do with football and its true fans."
French interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve also condemned the violence, praised the security services and reminded that that the country must still guard against the more severe threat of a possible terrorist attack.
He said: "The security forces can't be diverted from their public security mission by the reckless behaviour and deliberate pseudo-fans whose only motivation is to disrupt public order and whose interior minister condemns the unacceptable conduct."
