By Andrew Warshaw in Paris
June 17 – The far-right leader of the Russian supporters’ association is being deported from France following the violence at the England-Russia Euro 2016 clash in Marseille, escalating a diplomatic row between Russia and France.
Alexander Shprygin is among 20 Russian fans told to leave the country after being held by French authorities while attempting to travel from Marseille to Lille in a bid to attend Russia’s tie with Slovakia on Wednesday.
The All-Russia Supporters’ Union is reportedly backed by Kremlin and Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov denounced the detention of the fans.
“It was an absolutely unacceptable incident when a bus with more than 40 Russian fans was stopped by police,” Lavrov said referring to French police taking the group into custody.
Lavrov said the French authorities had not informed the Russian embassy or the consulate in Marseille before intercepting the bus transporting Russian fans, who included Shprygin.
Russia has already been given a suspended disqualification following the mayhem in the Stade de Velodrome in Marseille but will be out of the competition anyway unless they improve against Wales.
“We cannot turn a blind eye to the fact that (the French) are trying to ignore the absolutely provocative actions of fans from other countries,” Lavrov said, apparently referring to England fans.
“You probably saw the outrageous scenes on television of them trampling on the Russian flag and screaming insults directed at the Russian leadership and leading Russian athletes.”
Yet separately, Marseille prosecutor Brice Robin said he was investigating an attack on two England fans ahead of the 1-1 draw with Russia as attempted murder.
England fans have not in any way been held blameless, however. Five have been jailed for throwing bottles and a sixth was sentenced to a prison term in connection with the Marseille violence. Sixteen Britons were arrested following fresh violence in Lille. In total, French police have made more than 300 arrests since the start of the Euros.
“Of these arrests, 196 were taken into custody, eight convicted to jail terms and three given suspended sentences,” an interior ministry statement said.
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