Some Russians From Blocked Bus Participated in Clashes - French Authorities

The head of the regional prefecture of France's southeastern Alpes-Maritimes department said Tuesday that several Russian football fans, who have been recently blocked in a bus, took part in violent clashes with fans of England's national team in Marseille.

PARIS (Sputnik) — Earlier in the day, head of Russian Union of Fans Alexander Shprygin said French police blocked Russian football supporters in a bus on their way to the French northern city of Lille, where the Russian national team is set to play against Slovakia on Wednesday.

"Within the framework of an administrative procedure an inspection of a bus with 43 Russians is carried out. Four have been sent to a temporary detention center in [the city of] Nice, two should be sent to Marseille," Adolphe Colrat said, as quoted by the French Nice-Matin news outlet.

He added that if the blocked Russians did not comply with the demands of the French authorities, the local prosecutor's office could justify the use of force toward the fans.

On Saturday, Russian national football team played in a draw with the team of England at the UEFA’s Euro 2016 tournament in France. Following the match, about 30 Russian fans entered the area with England's fans, having broken through a security cordon. The clashes began and the security forces had to separate the groups of fans.

Earlier on Tuesday, UEFA's Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body decided to hand the Russian Football Union (RFU) a 150,000-euro ($168,000 at the current exchange rates) fine and a suspended disqualification following the Saturday crowd disturbances.