Riot police disperse England fans in Lille

Simply by Alastair Macdonald and Philip O'Connor
LILLE, France, June 15 (Reuters) - French riot police charged and used tear gas to disperse rowdy English football fans in Lille upon Wednesday, though the north city was spared terrifying clashes with Russian followers.



During the day, police said, 36 individuals were arrested for numerous offences as Russia lost to Slovakia in Lille and England prepared in order to play Wales in the particular same Euro 2016 team in nearby Lens on Thursday.

There had been fears of violence within the northern between Russian and British fans after they had clashed when their groups met in the southern city of Marseille on Sunday.
In case, few Russians had been in evidence on the particular streets of Lille right after their team's 2-1 defeat in an afternoon fixture and the main trouble in the evening has been caused by English followers chanting outside bars in groups of up to 200, watched by police.

After dark, as the historic centre of Lille packed with local people streaming home from a screening from the French team's victory over Albania, confrontations among small groups of followers prompted riot forces to intervene, chasing fans together streets, using pepper aerosol, dog handlers and acoustic grenades.

There was little bodily violence and the authorities said only 16 people involved in some method in the European football tournament were treated within Lille hospitals throughout Wednesday.
A game of cat-and-mouse, as England supporters moved on to gather elsewhere plus sing defiantly at law enforcement, eventually broke up within the small hours because fans drifted off within anticipation of the game against Wales in Zoom lens at 3 p. m. (1300 GMT) on Thurs.

Violence in the Mediterranean port of Marseille before and after England's 1-1 draw with Russia, which includes a charge in the particular stadium by Russian fans after the final whistle, offers seen the hosts of the 2018 World Mug warned by organisers EUROP�ISCHER FU�BALLVERBAND that the country's group will be disqualified if there is a repeat of this kind of disorder.

Reuters journalists saw at least three Russians detained by police in Lille before the match up, apparently after having already been identified as suspects within the Marseille trouble.
During the game against Slovakia, Bokep a flare went off within the stands among Ruskies supporters after Russia scored late on to give the particular team's fans hope associated with salvaging a draw. But UEFA officials indicated that the incident would not really trigger disqualification.

UEFA also warned England that a repetition of fans' violent behaviour could see the particular team expelled. There is simply no immediate reaction from EUROP�ISCHER FU�BALLVERBAND, European soccer's governing body, to the events in Lille, where police said they had "saturated" the city with nearly four, 000 officers and restricted alcohol sales.

England enthusiasts complained that the police experienced been heavy handed. "Shame, " some shouted from the heavily armoured makes.

However, the authorities experienced clearly decided to hold back from making mass arrests among noisy and disruptive groups. (Additional confirming by Pierre Savary and John Irish; Writing by Alastair Macdonald; Editing simply by Bill Rigby)