England fans

If I were Vladimir Putin and wanted to do my bit for the Leave campaign, I couldn't think of anything better than to encourage a punch up between Russian and English "football fans", knowing it would be dealt with by the heavy-handed French police.

It was bound to generate sensationalist nationalistic xenophobia in certain sections of the British press.

Conspiracy theory? Maybe??

I may be wrong, but I didn't see any women amongst the football violence. Am I wrong or are women not involved in that sort of thing. Must have been terrifying, one man had his little son there.

Local radio has just reported that French prosecutors have said a group of 150 Russian "fans" were behind the violence.

Thank you Jane, I thought there had been an attack overnight

That gunman in Orlando phoned 911 before he started and swore allegiance to IS. That terrorist attack Anniebach:

I think Anniebach is playing on words as she has posted on the Orlando Shooting thread.

I think possibly she does not like the use of the words terrorist attack.

The English fans were wrong and I am not stupid enough to know there will be elements in France who prefer to cause trouble than watch a football match and they do shame their country.

It is reported the Russian Ultras wore English t.shirts knowing this would be reported as English fans. Believe me the Ultras are out and out thugs and I think there is a lot of evidence searching required before UEFA took a decision to ban Russia and the England teams. There was a French presence in all of this too.

As for the police it is amazing how lax security has been , especially in the ground. I can't help but think what a strain those poor officers must be experiencing though as it seems to be a daily battle with somebody or another Terrorism, Strikes now the football, they must be shattered

Moscow is an amazing place jbf. Red Square, St Basil's Cathederal, the Gum store. Could not believe it when we were there. Had always pictured Russia as being behind an actual iron curtain when I was a child. We did an amazing tour of some of the underground stations. They have to been seen to be believed.

I would love to see Moscow. But I think I have missed the boat. World affairs.

The shooting in the gay nightclub may have been a nutter acting alone but they haven't ruled out links to ISIS

What terrorist attack in America?

The flare gun went off very loudly just before the end of the match. It made us jump watching at home and we wondered if it was a terrorist attack but there seemed to be no alarm raised - as though nothing was more important than the game.

I don't think the French have their act together at all. ISIS tend to attack when attention is focussed elsewhere which is probably why the USA took a hit while everyone is looking at Europe.

Trying to cope with warring fans and possible terrorism must be a nightmare scenario though.

As more information comes out about the violence in Marseilles, I take back some of my kneejerk reaction of automatically blaming the England football fans. Yes they still behaved badly, but to be set on by hundreds of organised Russian thugs bent only on violence, highlights a serious absence of effective policing- how did the "security body searches aka pat-downs as the supporters entered the stadium not reveal the weapons they were carrying? How could the police not react to the orchestrated vicious attacks on family groups or in one case, the disabled?
The French police are known for being tough but tear gas is a blunt weapon and should not be first resort.
Finally, again with a view to security, what if the motive had been terrorism on the scale of the Paris attacks? The resultant carnage is unthinkable.
I am not sure France should be hosting an event of this magnitude.

I agree with willmadsnan

That's what everyone is asking Welshwife it's amazing what weapons they had as well.

The interesting question is how did the Russian fans manage to get the fireworks or whatever they were into the Stade.

some of the countries will be pleased when we leave the eu because it will free them from the shackles of the eu

Merlotgran I agree with you there.

I have held off from replying to your response sweetcakes as I might come across as a rabid francophile but having lived in France for many years I can assure you that your last sentence is completely outdated. It was De Gaulle who didn't want the UK in the EC (as it was known then). Times have changed. The EC has become the EU, a totally different animal. Now it seems the majority of my French neighbours would be pleased to see us (yes, I still consider myself an 'us') leave the EU. I must say I was a bit taken aback when I first hear that expressed, but their reasoning is that if the UK leaves it will signal the gradual break-up of the EU. That is what they detest.... not the Brits.
To many, the EU is an out-of-control institution that seeks to impose Brussels -based laws that erode French law, a cardinal sin in the Republic. I have a certain sympathy with them. They are a wayward nation, but ...hey-ho.
The scenes in Marseilles are sickening. There are nationalistic thugs looking for a dust-up under the disguise of being a football fan in all European countries , and the French police do go in in a more pro-active way than UK citizens are used to, but please do not blame this on anglophobia on the part of the French. I find your posting a bit offensive.
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Those Russian supporters must have gone into the stadium with trouble in mind whatever the result.

To equalize in the final seconds of the game should have caused jubilation not violence.

There seemed to be little or no security which is surprising because I thought terrorism was high on the list of concerns.

It will be interesting to see if the Russian thugs behave as violently towards the supporters of the next country they will be playing

Thugs are thugs - no matter what nationality. There will be a minority who attend events with the intention of starting trouble. Last night it was the Russian "fans". I would like to see those involved immediately sent back to their respective countries where hopefully their own court system would deal with them.

Well, it was to be expected, I don't know why, but football seems to attract the people who enjoy a brawl. Boys/men always have that sort of push and jostle fun, which when it is in a crowd of competitors becomes more of a fight because tempers get frayed. The players on the field are often no great example, and get bad-tempered at the drop of a hat. Too much money involved.

sweetcakes give a dog a bad name and others will turn on them even if they are innocent
www.express.co.uk/news/world/679047/Euro-2016-Marseille-England-Russia-violence-Roy-Hodgson
DOZENS of crazed Russian football hooligans in balaclavas attacked England fans inside Marseille's Stade Velodrome after tonight's Euro 2016 clash.

www.dailymail.co.uk/home/index.html

I'm beginning to feel that English supporters are up the creek without a paddle.

Some horrible violence in Marseille on to news. 4 or 5 on to one man all kicking him as he was on the ground. Disgusting whoever it was.