Euro 2016: Russian hooligan fans praised by MP after clashes with England supporters

Updated

A senior Russian football official and politician has praised his country's football hooligans, claiming they were defending the nation's honour and that it was "normal" for fans to fight at matches.

"I don't see anything wrong with the fans fighting," Igor Lebedev, a member of both the Russian Football Union's executive committee and the lower house of Russia's federal assembly.

"Quite the opposite, well done lads, keep it up!"

Mr Lebedev blamed the French authorities for the trouble that marred the Euro 2016 game between England and Russia, and criticised other team officials for speaking out against their fans.

"In nine out of 10 cases, football fans go to games to fight, and that's normal," he said.

"The lads defended the honour of their country and did not let English fans desecrate our Motherland.

"We should forgive and understand our fans."

French authorities said about 150 hard-core Russian fans took part in the violence in Marseille.

UEFA yesterday said Russia and England could be thrown out of the European Championship finals if their fans are involved in more violence.

The UEFA executive committee made a public "warning" in a statement which expressed "disgust for the violent clashes which occurred in the city of Marseille" this weekend.

On top of any punishment ordered by an investigation committee, the executive committee said "it will not hesitate to impose additional sanctions on the Football Association (FA) and the Russian Football Union (RFU), including the potential disqualification of their respective teams from the tournament, should such violence occur again."

UEFA earlier charged Russia with misconduct over the role of its fans in the unrest.

Russia was charged with crowd disturbances, racist behaviour and letting off fireworks.

The result of the inquiry and sanctions are to be announced on Tuesday.

Russia's next game is in Lille, northern France, on Wednesday against Slovakia. England's next Group B game against Wales in nearby Lens on Thursday has been classed as a high-risk game by the French authorities.

A ban on alcohol consumption has already been ordered.

AAP/AFP

Topics: euro, soccer, sport, france, russian-federation, england

First posted