Violence back with a vengeance to haunt football

English and Russian supporters fought pitched battles in Marseille ahead of their countries’ Euro Championships opener on Saturday, with bottles and cafe chairs flying and clouds of teargas choking the city’s VieuxPort district. 

An Englishman was left fighting for his life and at least 34 other people were injured, said Laurent Nunez, police prefect from the southern French city. A police source said the man had been beaten with an iron bar, “apparently around the head,” and was rushed to hospital after emergency first-aid at the scene. 

The violence also spilled over into the match. At the end of the 1-1 draw in the Stade Velodrome, Russian fans charged into the England supporters’ section and scuffles briefly broke out. Later Saturday, the violence spread along the Mediterranean coast to Nice, where Northern Ireland fans were drawn into fights with local youths, witnesses said. The scenes in Marseille were reminiscent of the 1998 World Cup, when English and Tunisian fans brawled in some of the worst violence seen at a football tournament.