[DIFH]

hilly81, on 10 June 2016 - 08:12 AM, said:

'England fans targeted and attacked by locals' doesn't get as many clicks or sell as many papers as 'Tanked up England fans clash with locals in another night of shame'.

It was never a good idea having an England game in Marseilles with the notoriety of the local ultras.

It was never a good idea to have the Enland team overnight in a hotel next to the fanzone.

[Valley Blues]

tapton-one, on 10 June 2016 - 11:33 PM, said:

I agree with some of your points but again it is the majority of the fans that are tarnished with the same brush as the minority of trouble makers.I've been to World Cup tournaments and trust me the press in all of its guises are looking for that headline story.The problem is people like Bonnyman are quick to judge without knowing the facts.

I'm certainly not tarnishing the masses with the minority brush but the sad fact is that we have had two days of bother involving England fans and I would bet my bottom dollar we see similar scenes again later today. Unfortunately our reputation from years gone by continues to plague our travels. We are certainly targeted by thugs such as those notorious in Marseille but the media don't have to work very hard to get their footage of England lads chucking pub furniture about and posturing in front of the Old Bill.

I fully agree that the vast majority of England fans out there are there for nothing more than a good booze, sing song and to soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the occasion. We cannot deny, however, that we most definitely have a minority who will be relishing the prospect of continued trouble and that is a major factor in them being there.

I disagree totally with Bonny's sweeping generalisation but I would suggest our minority have more than played their part in the scenes the world will be seeing.

[hilly81]

Running battles with the Russians now. Some awful videos circulating on Twitter.

[Westbars Spireite]

hilly81, on 11 June 2016 - 03:06 PM, said:

Running battles with the Russians now. Some awful videos circulating on Twitter.

England v Russia in Marseilles is really a very bad idea.

[hilly81]

Westbars Spireite, on 11 June 2016 - 03:12 PM, said:

England v Russia in Marseilles is really a very bad idea.

It is. Madness. Whatever the result tonight it is not going to be a pleasant place to be for the next 24 hours or so.

[azul]

Westbars Spireite, on 11 June 2016 - 03:12 PM, said:

England v Russia in Marseilles is really a very bad idea.

And exactly where would you play it, the moon? Not sure the venue is the issue

[Tha Knows...]

azul, on 11 June 2016 - 11:41 AM, said:

Not having that I'm afraid.

I'm talking about when it is clear the nutters are congregating and it is just becoming too obnoxious or trouble is brewing before any police action. I watched a couple of games in Lisbon at the Portugal tournament and if we were in one of those areas we moved off easy enough, drinking elsewhere in the city

The France disaster in Lisbon was my first England game. My second game was a disaster too - Russia 2 England 1 in Moscow. Haven't tried to see them since!

[Westbars Spireite]

azul, on 11 June 2016 - 03:24 PM, said:

And exactly where would you play it, the moon? Not sure the venue is the issue

Any other host venue would have been better.

[hilly81]

Reports of a 300 strong group of Russians ambushing the English in a big way. One England fan critical amongst a host of bad injuries.

[Westbars Spireite]

hilly81, on 11 June 2016 - 03:37 PM, said:

Reports of a 300 strong group of Russians ambushing the English in a big way. One England fan critical amongst a host of bad injuries.

I hope the world's media reports this appropriately. It's going to be naughty all night whatever the result. Definite 'revenge' possibilities with potentially awful consequences.

[azul]

Westbars Spireite, on 11 June 2016 - 03:43 PM, said:

I hope the world's media reports this appropriately. It's going to be naughty all night whatever the result. Definite 'revenge' possibilities with potentially awful consequences.

I think the world will see the state of the city where the English fans are, strewn with empty bottles and other crap and make thier own minds up

[Spire-Heights]

Just seen a few photos with several Russian fans with massive knifes.

In other news, Wales started well - 1-0 up against Slovakia with Bale on the score sheet.

[Ernie Ernie Ernie]

Spire-Heights, on 11 June 2016 - 04:28 PM, said:

Just seen a few photos with several Russian fans with massive knifes.

In other news, Wales started well - 1-0 up against Slovakia with Bale on the score sheet.

Obviously they have only taken massive knives to the game to defend themselves from the drunken hoards of English fans. No intent on the Russians part at all

[Spire-Heights]

Ernie Ernie Ernie, on 11 June 2016 - 04:32 PM, said:

Obviously they have only taken massive knives to the game to defend themselves from the drunken hoards of English fans. No intent on the Russians part at all

Apparently...

England fan fighting for life after a cardiac arrest just after being attacked by a Russian fan.

[Westbars Spireite]

azul, on 11 June 2016 - 04:12 PM, said:

I think the world will see the state of the city where the English fans are, strewn with empty bottles and other crap and make thier own minds up

Which will be wrong.

From what I've read it seems to be Russians ambushing small groups of England fans and then doing one as soon as the proper lads turn up. Plenty of kicking people when they're down too - standard practice for this lot who've probably been practising in the woods for months and wresting each other naked.

[azul]

Westbars Spireite, on 11 June 2016 - 04:53 PM, said:

Which will be wrong.

From what I've read it seems to be Russians ambushing small groups of England fans and then doing one as soon as the proper lads turn up. Plenty of kicking people when they're down too - standard practice for this lot who've probably been practising in the woods for months and wresting each other naked.

P
Obviously

[Stoptalkingbol]

Spire-Heights, on 11 June 2016 - 04:47 PM, said:

Apparently...

England fan fighting for life after a cardiac arrest just after being attacked by a Russian fan.

Poor old Russians getting the blame, he's probably just had too much coke.

[Rudeboy spireite]

Organisation and Policing is a joke over here. We got into the ground and was escorted to our seats by two young black French lads who were brilliant. The Police do nothing other than fire tear gas when an incident occurs, they do not attempt to arrest the perpetrators of the incident they just flood the area with gas which gets everyone including women, children and in one incident a small baby. England fans have been fantastic filling 3/4 of the ground after being allocated 11K. I have never known as many spare tickets at an England game with tickets going for less than face value. We gave the two French lads tickets for free for helping us. There were hardly any taxis and if it were not for an Algerian who helped us in a couple of occasions we would have been stranded. Just seen footage of England fans being attacked in the ground and nog a policeman in site. NO Police in ground s joke. England fans are getting the blame again and it is once again not their fault.

[Bobby Darling]

Rudeboy spireite, on 12 June 2016 - 08:56 AM, said:

Organisation and Policing is a joke over here. We got into the ground and was escorted to our seats by two young black French lads who were brilliant. The Police do nothing other than fire tear gas when an incident occurs, they do not attempt to arrest the perpetrators of the incident they just flood the area with gas which gets everyone including women, children and in one incident a small baby. England fans have been fantastic filling 3/4 of the ground after being allocated 11K. I have never known as many spare tickets at an England game with tickets going for less than face value. We gave the two French lads tickets for free for helping us. There were hardly any taxis and if it were not for an Algerian who helped us in a couple of occasions we would have been stranded. Just seen footage of England fans being attacked in the ground and nog a policeman in site. NO Police in ground s joke. England fans are getting the blame again and it is once again not their fault.

Totally agree. The security around the ground was so lax. Easy if necessary to enter the ground without a valid ticket and presumably why the Russian Special Forces were able to take fireworks into the ground. Some in our group including 2 women were attacked by 200 men in black before the game. Apparently conspiracy apart they acted in a very organised military way. I didn't witness it personally however.

[DIFH]

Bobby Darling, on 12 June 2016 - 09:24 AM, said:

Totally agree. The security around the ground was so lax. Easy if necessary to enter the ground without a valid ticket and presumably why the Russian Special Forces were able to take fireworks into the ground. Some in our group including 2 women were attacked by 200 men in black before the game. Apparently conspiracy apart they acted in a very organised military way. I didn't witness it personally however.

Be very interesting to see how the Welsh hoards cope with them and if the authorities try to reduce the chance of similar incidents.

If this is an average norm of security levels we will certainly see worse.