Russian ‘ultras’ who left two England fans in comas at Euro 2016 will face attempted murder charges – if French cops can find them
Police looking through video footage to try and track them down
RUSSIAN Ultras who left two England fans fighting for their lives at Euro 2016 will face attempted murder charges, prosecutors revealed yesterday.
Police are sifting through 200 hours of video footage in a bid to identify the thugs who battered Andrew Bache, 51, and Stewart Gray, 47.
Video filmed by the thugs themselves and posted online - as well as footage recorded by police - was being checked in a bid to identify the soccer savages.
And French police announced yesterday they will be met by the full force of French law - and could be hammered with life sentences.
Sparkak and Lokomotiv Moscow "crews" left calling card stickers close to their bleeding victims in Marseille before England and Russia drew 1-1 eight days ago.
A group of 150 "highly trained" Russian Ultras wearing gum shields, martial arts fighting gloves and carrying telescopic batons, coshes and knives started the trouble.
A Marseille prosecutor’s office spokesman said yesterday: "Such facts have led to us investigating an attack on two England fans as attempted murder.
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"We are currently interviewing witnesses, and looking through some 200 hours of video footage to find all those responsible."
Three Russians involved in the fighting were jailed for up to two years earlier this week, but none of those directly involved in the most serious assaults have been nailed.
Mr Bache suffered a life-changing brain injury after he was smashed over the head with an iron bar by paramilitary hooligans who injured 40 Three Lions fans and put six in hospital.
His life was saved by a French policeman who gave him CPR in the street after he went into cardiac arrest.
The Portsmouth fan has since opened both eyes and moved his hand in hospital in Marseille.
Mr Gray, 47, from Hinckley, Leics, remains in a coma in the southern French port city after he was beaten with a metal bar or hammer.
Friends and well-wishers have donated more than £19,500 to help pay his medical bills.
"Ultras" Alexei Yerunov, Nikolai Morozov and Sergei Gorbachev were among 43 Russian suspects detained by French police in southern France on Tuesday.
Yerunov, who is "supporters' liaison officer" at Lokomotiv Moscow and his co-accused all insisted they played no part in the most serious attacks.
Alexander Shprygin, president of the All-Russian Fans' Union was among 20 Russian deported yesterday after he crowed "Well done lads - keep it up" after the riots.
According to the Daily Star Sunday, Russia’s foreign ministry confirmed 20 fans were placed on a flight from Nice to Moscow on Saturday.
The arrests angered the Russian government which summoned the French ambassador to protest.
Russian President Vladimir Putin called the fighting "a disgrace" but said he did not "understand how 200 of our fans could beat up several thousand English fans".
He called on Russian fans to behave when Russia play Wales in their final group game in Toulouse tomorrow.
Mr Putin said: "I hope that there are sober-minded people among them who really love sport and understand that any violation is... damaging to the team and to sport."
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