Russian football fans face expulsion from France due to fears of violence at Euro 2016 matches. Authorities are scrutinizing 29 supporters in Marseille, with some being sent to a holding center. The move follows clashes between fans earlier in the tournament, prompting UEFA to investigate and charge the Russian Football Union for the unrest.
A contingent of Russian football supporters is being expelled from France due to concerns about potential unrest during Euro 2016 matches. Local authorities announced that they are verifying the identities of 29 fans staying at a hotel in Marseille. Some supporters will be taken to a holding center at the border as a precautionary measure.
French police are reviewing whether the identified supporters appear on a watch list of fans regarded as risks, as stated by François-Xavier Lauch, a senior official from the Alpes-Maritimes region. These supporters were reportedly planning to attend the match in Lille, where Russia faces Slovakia on Wednesday.
The actions come amid rising worries from the English Football Association regarding the adequacy of response by French authorities to manage potential violence by Russian fans, particularly after significant altercations occurred between English and Russian supporters in Marseille the previous weekend.
In response to the violence, UEFA has launched an investigation and has charged the Russian Football Union for the related incidents, which included racist chants and the use of fireworks in the stadium. UEFA is expected to release a decision on the matter soon, with consequences for Russia potentially including fines, reprimands, or deductions of points in future qualifying efforts for Euro 2020.
UEFA has also indicated that continued violence could lead to disqualifications of both the Russian and English teams from Euro 2016, emphasizing the seriousness of maintaining order during the tournament.
Original Source: www.france24.com
