Fans Injured During Violent Clashes at Euro 2016

Violent clashes between rival football (soccer) fans broke out in two separate French cities on Saturday, marring the international tournament and rehashing questions about security at the event.

More than 35 people were injured in Marseille after hundreds of British and Russian soccer fans threw beer bottles and chairs at each other, and police struggled to control several violent brawls that broke out in the narrow streets surrounding the Stade Velodrome.

Later, after the two teams’ game ended in a 1-1 tie, Russian supporters charged the English side, forcing fans to scramble away and climb fences in a desperate bid to escape.

Separately, on the country’s Mediterranean coast in the town of Nice, seven more people were hurt during violence that took place between Northern Irish football fans and local residents.

European soccer’s governing body, UEFA, condemned the violence, saying “people engaging in such violent acts have no place in football.”

Now, the Russian team awaits possible sanctions following the actions of its fans. Four years ago in Poland, after Russian fans engaged in similar violence at Euro 2012, the team was given a suspended six-point penalty.

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