Euro 2016: Russia striker Artem Dzyuba slams England fans following Marseilles clashes
Target man believes Russia are the victims of a smear campaign ahead of 2018 World Cup while boss Leonid Slutsky refuses to condemn hooligans that marred Group B game
RUSSIA striker Artem Dzyuba has slammed England fans following the violent clashes in Marseilles.
The lanky target man has hit out at the way he believes Three Lions fans have been depicted as “angels” and reckons Russia are victims of a politically-motivated smear campaign ahead of hosting the 2018 World Cup.
Uefa today warned Russia that they would be booted out of the tournament if there was any repeat of the chaos that put two England fans in a critical condition.
And European football's governing body gave the Russian Football Union a suspended disqualification from Euro 2016 - meaning they could exit he tournament early if there is any more trouble.
Fighting raged before, during and after the two nations played out a 1-1 draw at Marseilles' Stade Velodrome, with the Russians letting off a firecracker just before the end of the game as a signal for their thugs to attack Three Lions followers.
They then charged through security barriers and brutally attacked England fans, leaving women and children fleeing to safety.
Dzyuba is furious over accusations that organised Russians yobs were to blame.
He said: "I don’t really understand this kind of reaction of the British media.
“We have this impression that English supporters are like angels coming to this country and behaving themselves."
He believes Three Lions fans were equally to blame for the violent carnage and reckons it is all part of a campaign to see his country stripped of the World Cup.
He added: “We see the things that the British media are talking about, about the 2018 World Cup and that it should be taken away from Russia, so these are thoughts I have sometimes.
"It is 50-50 and in every conflict there are two parts. I am not saying only Russians are at fault."
Russian hooligans prepared for tournament mass brawls at training camps ahead of firms such as the ‘Mad Butchers’ and ‘Clockwork Oranges’ joining forces.
It has now emerged that 150 drug-fuelled Russians are heading for Lille – where they face Slovakia on Wednesday - and more potential clashes with England fans, who will be in nearby Lens for Thursday’s Group B game with Wales.
When asked if he thought the claims were unfair, Dzyuba added: "I cannot affirm it, but it is possible, it is probable.
"This is not a street-fighting championship, this is football.
"We have already said several times that we hope the fans will behave properly.
"Our supporters have to focus on just supporting us and we will try to show our best qualities. We want to play this competition.
"We are happy to be here and it will be a big disappointment if we go out."
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Russia boss Leonid Slutsky also failed to condemn his country’s so-called supporters and insists they will not be kicked out of the tournament.
He said: "We are sure that we are not going to be kicked out. There is not going to be any injustice.
"We would like to repeat we are sure that our supporters will not do the same and will not give any reasons to disqualify our team.
"We do not know what happened on the streets of course, but when the Russian national anthem was played there were England supporters shouting.
"This was unethical as were all the gestures we received from England fans on the way to the stadium.
"There are some people who come to the game to watch and others who come to behave as badly as possible."
What will happen if Russia get kicked out?
SUNSPORT'S Martin Lipton explains the ramifications of Uefa's extraordinary warning
DO UEFA MEAN IT?
THIS is the most strongly-worded threat European football bosses have made for decades and Russia will be kicked out if their fans riot in the stadium again.
WHAT HAPPENS IF THEY ARE BOOTED OUT?
PANIC as the tournament gets thrown into the air.
NO, SERIOUSLY?
ENGLAND’S 1-1 draw would be annulled and Group B becomes three teams.
IS THAT GOOD OR BAD?
FOUR third-placed teams will qualify — but the most any Group B team finishing bottom could get is three — unlikely to be enough.
HOW CAN THE THIRD TEAM GO THROUGH THEN?
UEFA confirmed its emergency committee would convene to resolve the disparity in the event of Russia’s KO. The easiest option would be to rule that only the top two in Group B can go into the knock-out stage, with the third-placed team eliminated. Alternatively, Uefa could give a greater weighting to the results of the teams in Group B but that could bring appeals and challenges.
WHAT ABOUT THE 2018 WORLD CUP?
FIFA has announced Russia will have a “comprehensive security concept” to counter hooliganism but there is no chance of the tournament being moved. Fifa added: “Detailed security planning began by the local authorities from the moment the host country was chosen.”