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| Everton fans 'hit with tear gas' in Lille before Europa League game | Everton fans 'hit with tear gas' in Lille before Europa League game |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Everton fans have been reportedly hit by tear gas fired by police in Lille's main square ahead of their Europa League match in the French city. | Everton fans have been reportedly hit by tear gas fired by police in Lille's main square ahead of their Europa League match in the French city. |
| Images have appeared on Twitter of fans of the Merseyside club congregated in Grand Place square. | Images have appeared on Twitter of fans of the Merseyside club congregated in Grand Place square. |
| Everton subsequently sent out a message to fans to stay away from the area amid reports of a flare-up involving police. | Everton subsequently sent out a message to fans to stay away from the area amid reports of a flare-up involving police. |
| Another picture showed what appears to be blue smoke from flares. Ticketless fans had been warned to avoid the area. | Another picture showed what appears to be blue smoke from flares. Ticketless fans had been warned to avoid the area. |
| French authorities had banned Everton fans without tickets from the city centre. | French authorities had banned Everton fans without tickets from the city centre. |
| Earlier this week, a statement on Everton's website advised supporters without tickets they would not be allowed to enter sections of the city, including the area around the stadium between 10.00 and 17:00 BST. | Earlier this week, a statement on Everton's website advised supporters without tickets they would not be allowed to enter sections of the city, including the area around the stadium between 10.00 and 17:00 BST. |
| On Wednesday night, two Everton fans suffered facial injuries after about 50 Lille supporters, armed with metal chairs, attacked them in a city centre bar. | On Wednesday night, two Everton fans suffered facial injuries after about 50 Lille supporters, armed with metal chairs, attacked them in a city centre bar. |
| Merseyside Police said the fans had since been discharged from a local hospital. | Merseyside Police said the fans had since been discharged from a local hospital. |
| Everton FC added: "This was the only incident in what was otherwise a good-natured evening in the city centre." | Everton FC added: "This was the only incident in what was otherwise a good-natured evening in the city centre." |
| Mike Cleave, who lives in the Wirral, is in Lille with friends and has tickets for the match. | Mike Cleave, who lives in the Wirral, is in Lille with friends and has tickets for the match. |
| He said Everton fans were playing football in the main square, but that "it was all well-natured". | He said Everton fans were playing football in the main square, but that "it was all well-natured". |
| However, he said "everyone" was saying police were being "hard-handed" and that they threw two tear gas canisters. | However, he said "everyone" was saying police were being "hard-handed" and that they threw two tear gas canisters. |
| Mr Cleave said he did not witness police throw the canisters, but did see two "explosions" from a side road. | Mr Cleave said he did not witness police throw the canisters, but did see two "explosions" from a side road. |
| Groups of fans then dispersed because they did not want tear gas in their eyes, he said. | Groups of fans then dispersed because they did not want tear gas in their eyes, he said. |
| Greg O'Keefe, the Everton reporter for the Liverpool Echo, also witnessed the disturbance. | Greg O'Keefe, the Everton reporter for the Liverpool Echo, also witnessed the disturbance. |
| 'Loud bangs' | 'Loud bangs' |
| He said: "I spoke to one guy whose little seven-year-old boy had got gas in his eyes and started to wretch and vomit in the middle of the square. | He said: "I spoke to one guy whose little seven-year-old boy had got gas in his eyes and started to wretch and vomit in the middle of the square. |
| "It was really unpleasant, but then as soon as it had happened, within ten minutes the flashpoint had settled down and the police had made, I think, one arrest." | "It was really unpleasant, but then as soon as it had happened, within ten minutes the flashpoint had settled down and the police had made, I think, one arrest." |
| Lifelong Everton fan Neil Roberts, 43, from Hertfordshire, said: "We were sitting in a bar and then heard four loud bangs - almost like gunshots or flares going off. | Lifelong Everton fan Neil Roberts, 43, from Hertfordshire, said: "We were sitting in a bar and then heard four loud bangs - almost like gunshots or flares going off. |
| "As far as I'm concerned nobody was causing any trouble. There might have been a couple of people throwing bottles but there are 18,000 here having a great time. | "As far as I'm concerned nobody was causing any trouble. There might have been a couple of people throwing bottles but there are 18,000 here having a great time. |
| "I saw police running in, a ball of smoke and Everton fans all running away." | "I saw police running in, a ball of smoke and Everton fans all running away." |
| Everton said in a statement: "We are monitoring the situation, and advising fans to stay away from the main square. | Everton said in a statement: "We are monitoring the situation, and advising fans to stay away from the main square. |
| "We've been told by the French authorities that rubber bullets have not been fired by the police." | "We've been told by the French authorities that rubber bullets have not been fired by the police." |
| Are you in the area? Have you been caught up in events? Share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk, yourpics@bbc.co.uk upload here | |
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