Six England fans jailed over Euro 2016-related trouble in Marseille

Lebedev, who is also an MP for the nationalist Liberal Democratic party and the deputy chairman of the Russian parliament, blamed the trouble prior to and following Russia’s Euro 2016 opener against England on French police and rival supporters.

They were heading towards the northern city of Lille and were suspected of being involved in the Marseille violence. The fine is enormous as the Russian Football Union is a non-commercial organisation.

The fine follows the clashes between Russian and English football fans in Marseille, southern France, the UEFA press service said in a press-release.

However, after three nights of violent clashes in Marseilles between French police, local fans and Russian and English supporters, UEFA will not accept a repeat and issued a heavily worded statement on Sunday afternoon.

Russia coach Leonid Slutsky appeared unwilling to overtly condemn any involvement of Russian fans in last weekend’s violence.

A suspended disqualification means that Russian Federation will remain in the competition, although further fan violence inside the ground will mean they are kicked out. I’m appealing therefore to all of our fans, and we appreciate your support at the matches of course.

He called for an urgent meeting of the Lille and Lens police authorities to draw up an “effective” security plan.

Marseille’s prosecutor said Monday that 150 “extremely well-trained” Russian hooligans had evaded arrest in the violence, the worst to hit a major football tournament since the 1998 World Cup, also held in France.

A contingent of Russia’s supporters charged towards the English fans at the final whistle, resulting in panic as they fled and jumped over barriers to escape.

Supporters who are already in Lille have said they are anxious about potential trouble in the city ahead of Thursday’s England and Wales clash.

The footage has emerged after a rallying cry from a Russian MP who congratulated the hooligans over their treatment of the England fans, telling them to “keep it up lads”.

Hodgson urged England fans ahead of its match to “stay out of trouble”.

“We worked very hard to get here and we really desperately want to stay in the competition”.

British authorities have also sent extra police to France to help in the operation.

Reports from Lille suggest “hundreds” of police officers have interrupted more fighting with some fans said to have sustained a range of injuries ranging from bruises to open wounds.