Four Foreign Club Hooligan Firms Came Together to Hunt Down England Fans
During Euro 2016, police investigations revealed that England fans had been systematically targeted by organised hooligan groups from several European clubs.
The tournament saw England crash out in embarrassing fashion in the round of 16 at the hands of Iceland, however, it was what happened off the pitch that was most worrying.
British police operating in France for the tournament gathered evidence of incidents at all three of England’s group matches, with ultras from four separate clubs involved.
In Lens, where England beat Wales 2-1, ultras linked to Belgium’s Standard Liège confronted English supporters, while Feyenoord hooligans travelled to Lille specifically to provoke clashes.
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Fans of Olympique Lyonnais, known as the Bad Gones, also appeared to target England fans sparking street fights, however, it was what happened in Marseille that dominated the headlines.
This was the most extreme violence England fans faced at the tournament, as PSG fans joined 'hyper violent' Russians in a strategic attack on English fans.
Over 100 fans were injured, with 30 hospitalised with serious injuries, following the attacks in the old port area of the city, and again inside the Stade Vélodrome.
Steve Neill, Chief Superintendent of Northumbria Police said: “The Russians came with serious intent to carry out barbaric violence. They were highly organised, very effective and we saw football hooliganism on a different level.”
“On the Saturday we had over 100 walking wounded, 30 seriously who had been admitted to hospital, and five who the consultant told my officers were likely to prove fatal that evening.
"I stood in Marseille as the senior officer believing we were going to get five fatalities that night, we might have five murders on our hands," he added.
England fans were for once, deemed largely blameless for the incidents, with other nations such as Northern Ireland also targeted by the same ultra groups.
Tom Jenkins