Euro 2016: France Deports Twenty Russian Fans
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - A group of 20 Russian football fans has been deported from France after being accused of involvement in hooliganism at Euro 2016.
The deportations from Nice airport follow mass fighting in the streets in Marseille involving English, Russian and French fans in the run-up to last week's 1-1 draw between England and Russia.
The fans had been accused by Marseille prefect Stephane Bouillon of "participation in skirmishes linked to the England-Russia game".
Despite their impending removal from France, Alexander Shprygin, the leader of a Russian fan group who was among the 20 to be deported, said that their visas would not be cancelled and all planned to return to France for Monday's match against Wales.
"What has happened to us is a complete outrage," Shprygin said by phone from the airport, adding the 20 were not involved in any disorder, Sky Sports reported on Sunday.
The 20 were part of a larger group of Russians who were detained by French authorities on Tuesday, after violence broke out inside and outside the stadium in Marseille last Saturday.
Three Russian fans were convicted of offences related to the violence and sentenced to prison terms of between one and two years.
