The French authorities knew last week of a “powerful group of Russian thugs” travelling en masse to perpetrate violence in Marseille but failed to act, according to Wayne Nash, the head of security for the Wales team.

England fans were involved in three days of trouble in the buildup to Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Russia and supporters from both sides clashed before kick-off in Marseille’s old port area. Furthermore, at full time at the Stade Vélodrome a lack of segregation in the stands appeared to allow Russian supporters to charge their English counterparts.

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Despite a heavy presence of riot police on the streets of Marseille, they struggled to contain the clashes and there were no police visible inside the stadium during the match, leaving the stewards virtually powerless to help frightened fans.

Nash said the Russian police passed on information about the groups but their French counterparts failed to act. “We are aware some [of the Russians] were picked up by the French police and there is intelligence some have left but I don’t think we have a full picture. The Russian police have passed on accurate intelligence to the French authorities but they have gone unchecked. They were a powerful, mindless group of thugs who carried out criminal behaviour at a level far above other incidents we have seen. We want those persons [hooligans] held accountable for their actions, there is no place for that in football and the sooner we get rid of them the better. We want an environment where you can attend games with your friends and family.”

Asked what he meant by unchecked, Nash said: “They [French authorities] knew a powerful group were around. What I mean is they came down en masse and, if you do not have a strong presence and groups to deal with them, it becomes reactive. The British style of policing is different; that is not being critical.”

Wales play England on Thursday in Lens, with Russia to face Slovakia in nearby Lille the day before. Nash said they have requested police be present in the stadium on Thursday to try to avoid a repeat of what occurred on Saturday.

“We have asked for extra patrols. Their [French] methods are different. It is not saying our way is best but this is a British game with British culture and people will not be upset if they see officers in and around the stadium as we are used to it,” he said. “Those things will be decided over the next days and we will offer our knowledge and experience, although obviously we are not running the tournament.

“Police make more impact than a steward. A steward is often someone with 16 to 20 hours of training, they are stewarding on the basis of consent and when you see a public disorder incident like in Marseille they need the backing of the police. The steward can contain for a certain time but it depends what they are facing. We do not expect the stewards in Lens to face anything like what we saw in Marseille.”

It will be decided on Tuesday if the request for a beefed-up police presence will be granted by the French authorities.

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Nash said: “There is a meeting tomorrow with the head of British police and silver commanders for English and Welsh delegations with the prefect who controls the policing matters in the region. Following that meeting the head of Uefa security and the national associations will meet our police to discuss the outcomes. Talks are being held at the highest level because we want to make sure we get back on track and that this is a passionate derby match and people enjoy the game.

“We want the fans to stay the right side of decent. Policing over here is different. There has been some criticism we’ve picked up on social media that they there is no police in stadium or only reacting to situations. In Bordeaux there were no problems [for Wales’s opener] but you are aware that someone can do something stupid and that can escalate where as we like to see patrolling and low-level intervention to prevent such escalation.

Wales (@FAWales) The FAW is advising fans not to travel to Lille and Lens for Thursday's match without a ticket. #Diolch pic.twitter.com/BBWVV6S31m

“We’ve been requesting that and also requesting for reassurance purposes we’d like to have police deployed close if not in the stadiums, just to be able to deploy a tactical option so things could be contained before anything escalates.”

The Football Association of Wales has advised fans not to travel to Lens or Lille without a ticket.