Russia handed 'suspended ban' from Euro 2016

Russia have been handed a final warning from UEFA with a ‘suspended disqualification’ from Euro 2016 and a $168,300 fine imposed for their supporters’ disorder during Saturday’s 1-1 draw with England in Marseille.

Any further instances of crowd disturbance inside stadiums at Russia’s matches this summer would see them thrown out of the tournament after the Russian Football Union (RFU) were charged with crowd disturbances, use of fireworks and racist behaviour, the Daily Mail reports.

Daily mail further reports that the suspended sanction will however only apply to the trouble inside the stadium. The RFU are permitted to appeal the punishments.

“Charges relating to crowd disturbances, use of fireworks and racist behaviour had been brought against the RFU (Russian Football Union),” UEFA said in a statement.

At the same time French police had on Tuesday launched an anti-hooligan operation in the town of Mandelieu after verifying the identities of 29 Russian supporters suspected of being involved in clashes ahead of a Euro 2016 game between Russia and England.

The police stopped a bus carrying Russians and detained them.

“These verifications have been carried out on the basis of intelligence … leading us to think they were present in Marseille,” said Xavier Lauch, cabinet director of the prefect of the Alpes Maritimes department.

Several hundred English and Russian fans squared off in Marseille before the Russia Vs. England game last Saturday, hurling beer bottles and chairs and drawing volleys of tear gas from riot police who struggled to contain the skirmishes in the narrow streets of the Old Port.

Reuters, Press Agencies