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Euro 2016: Two England fans arrested after Marseille clash | Euro 2016: Two England fans arrested after Marseille clash |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Two England football fans have been arrested after police used tear gas to disperse a brawl in Marseille ahead of the first Euro 2016 games. | |
Police said one of the fans was arrested for assaulting a barman and the other for violent disorder. | Police said one of the fans was arrested for assaulting a barman and the other for violent disorder. |
One England supporter suffered a head injury after being hit in the face with a wooden chair. | |
Police in riot gear were on the streets after the incident outside a pub shortly before midnight on Thursday. | Police in riot gear were on the streets after the incident outside a pub shortly before midnight on Thursday. |
The clash with locals took place outside the Queen Victoria pub in the Old Port district. | The clash with locals took place outside the Queen Victoria pub in the Old Port district. |
'Small minority' | 'Small minority' |
Ch Supt Steve Neill, who is a British policeman in charge of England fan security in Marseille, told BBC Radio 5 Live: "About midnight last night there was confrontation between a group of local youths and some England supporters. | Ch Supt Steve Neill, who is a British policeman in charge of England fan security in Marseille, told BBC Radio 5 Live: "About midnight last night there was confrontation between a group of local youths and some England supporters. |
"Local police moved in very quickly and utilised some tear gas to disperse the local youths and close the pub. | "Local police moved in very quickly and utilised some tear gas to disperse the local youths and close the pub. |
"The use of tear gas seems quite dramatic to us from England and the United Kingdom because we are not used to seeing it - but in mainland Europe it is a regular tactic and they restored order fairly quickly." | "The use of tear gas seems quite dramatic to us from England and the United Kingdom because we are not used to seeing it - but in mainland Europe it is a regular tactic and they restored order fairly quickly." |
Footage of the incident showed men hurling chairs, a fist fight outside a McDonald's and chanting England fans surrounded by police officers with dogs. | Footage of the incident showed men hurling chairs, a fist fight outside a McDonald's and chanting England fans surrounded by police officers with dogs. |
Ambulances were seen arriving after police carrying riot shields moved in to separate the crowd and tear gas was used to clear the area. | Ambulances were seen arriving after police carrying riot shields moved in to separate the crowd and tear gas was used to clear the area. |
"We need to keep it in context - there are thousands of England supporters who will come here and have a fantastic time," Ch Supt Steve Neill said. | "We need to keep it in context - there are thousands of England supporters who will come here and have a fantastic time," Ch Supt Steve Neill said. |
"There is a small minority who drink too much and get involved in some anti-social behaviour." | "There is a small minority who drink too much and get involved in some anti-social behaviour." |
Supporters have travelled to Marseille ahead of England's game with Russia on Saturday. | Supporters have travelled to Marseille ahead of England's game with Russia on Saturday. |
Kevin Miles, chief executive of the Football Supporters' Federation which runs the fans embassy in Marseille, said: "It's the police's job to prevent a confrontation and they used French methods to do so, which we're not particularly used to. | |
"They used tear gas, which is a little bit indiscriminate for my liking, but it did the job and the problems were over." | |
Are you a fan in France for Euro 2016? What is your view of the brawl? And what do you make of policing arrangements? | |
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