Euro 2016: FA has 'serious concerns' over Lille security

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Media caption,

A French prosecutor says there were around 150 Russian "hooligans" who travelled to Marseille "well-prepared for violence"

There are "serious concerns" about security in Lille, where England and Russia fans are set to gather for this week's Euro 2016 matches, Football Association chairman Greg Dyke says.

England fans are due to be in Lille ahead of Thursday's match against Wales in nearby Lens, while Russia play Slovakia in the city on Wednesday.

Six England fans were jailed after the teams drew 1-1 on Saturday.

The country was also fined 150,000 euros (£119,000) over crowd trouble at the match in Marseille.

Uefa said the punishment would be imposed if similar incidents happen at any of Russia's remaining matches.

Meanwhile, Home Secretary Theresa May described the violence as "deeply disturbing" and said the UK was offering support with investigations and "post-incident analysis".

Security arrangements

Both Russia and England could face expulsion by Uefa, the organisers of Euro 2016, if there is any further violence.

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Former FA boss David Davies said "we have never been closer to a country being thrown out because of the behaviour of its supporters"

But in a letter to Uefa in response, Mr Dyke rejected the suggestion that England fans were at fault for scenes inside the Stade Velodrome following the match with Russia.

He said that the implication that English fans were in part responsible was "contradicted both by the video evidence and by the fact your independent disciplinary bodies have only instigated sanctions against the Russian Football Union".

England fans, particularly those without match tickets, had been advised to stay in Lille because Lens is a small city, Mr Dyke said.

"We have serious concerns around the security arrangements for the city in the next few days," he added.

"These concerns are heightened with the knowledge that Russia will play in Lille on Wednesday afternoon."

Image source, AP
Image caption,
Greg Dyke said there was "insufficient segregation" between England and Russian fans during Saturday's match

Thousands of supporters are expected to follow Thursday's match between Wales and England at fan zones in the Place Jean Jaures in Lens and also Lille, which is 24 miles (39km) away.

More than 35,000 ticket holders are due to watch the clash in the Stade Bollaert-Delelis.

Responding to an urgent Commons question from shadow home secretary Andy Burnham, Mrs May said the UK was sending police spotters - officers trained to spot trouble-makers at football matches - to support French authorities.

This will involve the deployment of additional British Transport Police officers on rail services in the area, following a request from the French.

She also said 1,400 passports were seized from England fans before the tournament began.

England fans without tickets were being advised against travelling to Lens and Lille, she added.

In other developments:

Chris Booth, father of jailed England fan Alexander Booth, said his son had thrown "absolutely nothing" and that his sentence was "a joke, it's pathetic".

The clashes in Marseille's Stade Velodrome on Saturday followed England's 1-1 Euro 2016 draw with Russia, after Russian fans appeared to rush at England supporters.

Media caption,

Chris Booth, said his son threw nothing and would have seen more justice in a "kangaroo court"

Witnesses said trouble began in the stadium after flares were let off by Russian fans near the end of the game. Some then climbed across barriers designed to keep rival fans apart, and a number appeared to attack fleeing England fans.

The charges against Russia are for crowd disturbances, racist behaviour, and setting off fireworks during the game.

Image source, PA
Image caption,
Some Russia supporters had smuggled in flares which they set off at the end of the match

Former head of the National Counter Terrorism Security office, Chris Phillips, told BBC Radio 5 live French police had a "very difficult job" as they were operating under the threat of terrorism, but had "not learned from many years of experience... around dealing with disorder and dealing with crowds of people".

Dr Joel Rookwood, from Southampton Solent University, told the BBC that, to many Russian fans, England "represented the ultimate enemy" and was seen as the inventor of football hooliganism.

Meanwhile, England manager Roy Hodgson and captain Wayne Rooney appealed directly to fans to "behave themselves".

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England boss Roy Hodgson & Wayne Rooney urge fans to avoid trouble