French ambassador summoned to Moscow as Kremlin Foreign Minister warns crackdown on hooligans will ‘significantly aggravate’ Russia-France relations
French police have blamed 150 "well-trained" Russian hooligans for clashes before England game
The Russian foreign ministry have summoned the French ambassador over detentions of Russians at Euro 2016.
They warned that “further stoking of anti-Russian sentiments... could significantly aggravate the atmosphere in Russian-French relations”.
While conceding that the behaviour of some Russians had been poor, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused other countries of “the provocative actions” during the tournament.
France has insisted that the arrest of Russia fans was “according to the law.”
French police have arrested six Russians today in connection with the violence in France at the weekend while another four Russians are to be deported.
Russia has been given a suspended disqualification and a €150,000 fine, meaning any further violence would lead to immediate disqualification. Uefa’s disciplinary committee handed down the punishment following fan violence inside Marseille's Stade Velodrome where Russia played England on Saturday.
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Mr Lavrov suggested that French police had provoked Russia fans by being subjected to security checks. He also accused France of violating international treaties by detaining fans.
He said: “It is a fact that the French behaved completely contrary to their obligations under the Vienna Convention, and I have already written to the French foreign minister, demanding that he does not allow any more such incidents to occur.”
French police have blamed 150 ";well-trained" Russian hooligans for clashes before England played Russia.
During a press conference Marseille prosecutor Brice Robin said: "There were 150 Russian supporters who in reality were hooligans. These people were well prepared for ultra-rapid, ultra-violent action. These are extremely well-trained people.”
After the clashes on Saturday five England fans were jailed for throwing bottles at police and a sixth jailed in connection with the violence.
Continued violence has marred this year’s Euros. Police used pepper spray and tear gas to disperse footie fans on Wednesday near the train station in the northern city of Lille after more trouble broke out between England, Wales and Russia fans.
British police officers are being sent to Lens, northern France, ahead of the England-Wales match on Thursday. The city has imposed a 24hour ban on alcohol in the streets. Fans are only able to drink in the designated fan zone. Authorities will also be searching cars travelling into Lens for alcohol. Every game in Lens will have the same alcohol restriction, that includes Albania v Switzerland, and Czech Republic v Turkey games.
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