FIFA condemns Marseille violence as "unacceptable"

World football governing body FIFA, has condemned the violence in Marseille, saying that events like Euro 2016 are meant to celebrate football.

“It is unacceptable to see such shameful scenes around football matches perpetrated by a minority idiotic trouble makers, who have nothing to do with football and its true fans,” FIFA said in a statement. Shocking scenes emerged on Saturday, after a third night of clashes in Euro 2016 host city Marseille.

Authorities say a Briton is fighting for his life, after at least 35 civilians and police officers were injured in violence before and after Saturday’s Group B match between England and Russia.

French police made several arrests and fired tear gas and water cannon to try to disperse the crowds.

Inside the Stade Velodrome, towards the end of the tie, rivalry turned into riots as Russia supporters appeared to throw projectiles at England fans.

They then seemed to rush at the opposing supporters causing some to scramble over the perimeter fence.

UEFA say a decision to impose sanctions will be made within the next five days once the Russian football Union submits its statements and evidence.

Eyewitnesses to the violence in the city – which took place largely in the Old Port area – say the clashes appear to have been between small groups of local French people, Russia fans and England supporters.

From high spirits to this – again #Marseille can't say what triggered it but v nasty pic.twitter.com/cWuIi7iWMZ

— emma murphy (@emmamurphyitv) June 11, 2016

Public transport and taxi services were suspended, reportedly forcing hundreds of people to walk back to their hotels.

Saturday’s match had been identified as ‘high risk’ when it comes to hooliganism, raising questions over how and why such extreme violence was able to take place across three consecutive nights.

Euronews