Police use tear gas after fights in France

England and Russian Federation fans rioted before the game at Marseille’s nearby Old Port district and briefly outside the Stade Velodrome in a third straight day of violence.

The clash took place outside the Queen Victoria pub in the Old Port district after English fans set up camp there. England and Russian Federation were meeting in a Euro 2016 game at the city’s Stade Velodrome on Saturday.

Troublemakers were seen throwing bottles and chairs from a roadside brasserie, and bare-chested, flag-waving England fans taunted baton-wielding policemen in scenes that will again mar the reputation of the country’s soccer supporters that had recovered since the dark days of hooliganism in the 1970s and ’80s.

The officers, who wore full riot gear, were seen marching towards hundreds of England fans who ran away down the street.

This morning the only evidence of the incident was a few tear gas canisters lying on the floor alongside dozens of plastic cups. England fans – including young children – fled for the exits in panic, with some having to vault railings to escape.

“They are looking for (a fight), provocation. It’s not the English”, Anthony Heraud, the 34-year-old manager of Irish pub O’Malley’s, told The Associated Press.

“There were some small exchanges but nothing too nasty”, Heraud added.

“People were drinking and having a bit of a sing-song all day, the French police were very relaxed, letting them get on with it”.

By Saturday evening, tens of thousands of fans had descended on Marseille ahead of the evening’s match.

One England supporter suffered a head injury in the brawl after being hit across the face with a wooden chair.

European football’s governing body, UEFA, condemned the violence. “We are confident that the safety of travelling fans will be ensured by the local authorities which are responsible for order in the city. We make an appeal to all fans to behave respectfully throughout the tournament”.

Police patrols on a street following scuffles in Marseille, France, early Friday, June 10, 2016. Trouble flared outside an Irish pub in the Old Port of the southern city just before midnight Thursday, apparentl.

“The FA is very disappointed by the bad scenes that we saw there and of course condemns such behavior”, said FA spokesman Mark Whittle, adding that the body was calling on French authorities “to identify those involved in the troubles and deal with them appropriately and quickly”.

England coach Roy Hodgson refused to comment in detail on the incidents, but said the players “weren’t particularly aware (of what happened) and it certainly had no effect on our preparation for the game and our performance in the game”.

English soccer fans have been largely praised for their behavior during recent tournaments.