At least 31 injured in violence ahead of England-Russia match
Marseille - At least 31 people were injured, four of themseriously, in violence between supporters ahead of Saturday's Euro2016 match between England and Russia in the southern port city ofMarseille, authorities said.
One England fan remained in critical condition, interior ministerBernard Cazeneuve said, while six people were taken into custody aspolice used tear gas for a third day in a row.
Three police officers were slightly injured in the melee, policechief Laurent Nunez told the French BFMTV news channel.
The European football body UEFA condemned the violence.
"UEFA firmly condemns the incidents in Marseille. People engaging insuch violent acts have no place in football," the governing body saidin a statement.
England's Football Association (FA) issued a statement calling onEnglish fans to "act in a respectful manner" and said it was"disappointed by the scenes of disorder in Marseille."
Supporters could be seen attacking each other with chairs and metalrods in footage shown on French television and posted on socialmedia.
Both English and Russian supporters, as well as local French fans,were involved in the clashes, according to media reports.
After the final whistle of the match at the Stade Velodrome, Russiansupporters were seen storming a section of the ground housing Englandfans, causing them to flee. During the match flares were fired from asection seating Russian fans.
The violence came as local police mobilized more than 1,000 Frenchpolice officers following two nights of violence in the port area ofMarseille.
Nunez said that police were working to keep supporters for the twoteams separated in different areas along the fan mile.
English fans had already been involved in serious clashes inMarseille during the 1998 World Cup.
