Speaking before the widespread violence on Saturday afternoon, Kevin Miles, chief executive of the Football Supporters’ Federation (a self-described democratic organisation representing the rights of fans in England and Wales) acknowledged the faults of some travelling fans.

“It’s complex, it’s not easy,” he told ESPN FC. “There’s no escaping the fact that a small minority of England fans clearly don’t know how to behave. But it’s more complex than that.”

Miles believes that the frequent use of tear gas by French law enforcement has exacerbated the situation.

“The policing has been such that it has escalated things rather than calming them down. Tear gas doesn’t remove individuals, it punishes everyone. It alienates people, it makes people angry.”