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Russian, English football hooligans reportedly joined to fight locals in Marseille New details from Marseille brawl suggest Russian, English football hooligans joined to fight locals
(about 4 hours later)
Russian and English football fans reportedly joined forces to fight French locals in Marseille during Euro 2016. The display of violence during the football tournament has been condemned by the authorities. Russian and English football fans reportedly joined forces to fight French locals in Marseille during Euro 2016, some online posts allegedly from witnesses suggest.
Euro 2016 has seen a new breed of 21st-century football hooliganism. RT reporter Alexey Yaroshevsky has discovered testimonies on internet forums which describe the events as a “festival of street violence." Amid the football championship, RT reporter Alexey Yaroshevsky has discovered testimonies on internet forums that describe the situation in one of the host cities as a “festival of street violence.” One such story suggested that an alliance had been formed between Russian and English football fans to battle French locals in Marseille, Yaroshevsky tweeted 
But amidst all the chair- and punch-throwing, one incident stands out. According to the post, which was written in Russian football slang, some 30 to 40 Russian hooligans joined forces with 20 Brits to fight “a hundred, if not more locals.” 
Yaroshevsky discovered an account of a brief alliance between Russian and English football fans in a battle against the French in Marseille. Congratulating fellow hooligans for upholding “the warrior spirit,” the author said that the fighting had started with a scuffle between Russian and British fans, with the latter throwing bottles and chairs at the Russians. “It should be noted police were nowhere to be seen,” he added. 
According to the anecdote, which was discovered on a Russian internet forum, some 30-40 Russian hooligans joined forces with 20 Brits to fight “a hundred, if not more locals.” The fight was then joined by some 100 fans of the local football team Olympique de Marseille, the forum post said, claiming that the involvement of the locals, who were mainly “blacks and Arabs,” prompted the Russians and Brits to unite against them. “Police took their time again, only appearing 20 minutes later,” it claimed.
The following is a translation of Russian football slang. Clashes inside and outside the stadium broke out on Saturday when Russia’s and England’s national teams played their first game, which ended in a 1-1 draw. Some 30 people were reportedly injured in ensuing brawls.
The account begins with the author congratulating fellow hooligans for upholding “the warrior spirit” and exhorting them to “come to the Euros! It’s not too late!” Russia was fined €150,000 (£119,000/$168,000) following the fan violence, and warned by the UEFA that it would be thrown out of Euro 2016 if the trouble continued. England has also been threatened with disqualification from the tournament because of fan violence, but has not been formally charged by the UEFA.
It then describes a “lengthy standoff” with the English hooligans near the port. On Wednesday, French security forces in southern France stopped a bus carrying Russian supporters who were on their way to watch their team play in a match against Slovakia in Lille. French authorities said 43 fans were detained because they are suspected to have been involved in the Marseille clashes. 
“The ‘Britishers’ attacked from the side of port, though I wouldn’t exactly say they attacked—they hardly engaged in any close combat, and instead used an unbelievable amount of assorted sh*t – from bottles, to tables and chairs and dumpsters. It lasted about 20 minutes if not more. It should be noted police were nowhere to be seen. READ MORE: French authorities to deport 20 Russian football fans after Euro 2016 brawls 
“The English also wouldn’t go into open space, knowing they had no chance in close combat.” While allowing that behavior of some Russian fans at the championship has been unacceptable, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced that he had officially asked his French counterpart not to take a one-sided view of such incidents. The diplomat also blamed French authorities for not having informed Moscow of the detention of Russian citizens.
According to the forum post, the “battle” reached a pinnacle when fans of the local football team Olympique de Marseille joined the brawl. Reacting to Saturday’s incident, Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said that he had attended the games himself and stated that “the overwhelming majority of Russian fans are decent people, who came [to France] to watch football and have some rest.” The minister also accused French authorities of failing to provide adequate security for the tournament.
“Later, blacks and Arabs from the local Olympique turned up and got involved. They were on some hard sh*t and with other stuff. There were some 30-40 Russians, and some 20 Brits fighting a hundred, if not more locals. Witnesses said, the sky got dark with the sh*t in the air.
“Police took their time again - appearing only 20 minutes later. Local blacks and Arabs are also weak, they only go on their sh*t.”
The forum post’s author also shares his less-than-flattering thoughts on the English hooligans, who once dominated soccer violence across the continent.
“The ‘Britishers’ aren’t at all impressive at fights, they’re almost all alcoholics, degenerates and half-f*ggots. Most of those who participated were just under 50, those who still remember the good old days of English ‘okolo football’*.”
* ‘Okolo football’ is a term used by Russians to refer to soccer hooligan culture.
Russia has been fined €150,000 (£119,000/US$168,000) following the fan violence, and warned by UEFA that it will be thrown out of Euro 2016 if the trouble continues.
French officials say 43 Russian supporters have been arrested and will be charged, released or expelled from the country.
England has also been threatened with disqualification from the tournament over fan violence, but has not been formally charged by UEFA.