The match between England and Russia was marred by ugly clashes between fans before, during and after the match and UEFA has now taken a very strict decision provisionally suspending Russia from the tournament and handing them a fine of €150,000.
The final whistle at the Stade Velodrome saw Russian fans break through the security cordon to assault English fans by kicking and punching them, the majority of whom were seeing fleeing for their own safety by vaulting over the barricades and fences. Flares were also lit and one flare was fired with the help of a gun at a section of fans in another stand.
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Even if England fans were guilty of violence before the game, incidents of violence outside the stadium do not fall under the purview of UEFA and hence only the Russian Football Union has seen disciplinary proceedings opened against them.
Charges from UEFA include “crowd disturbances, racial discrimination and use of fireworks” and any further incidents will see Russia disqualified from the tournament.
As per the sanctions handed out by UEFA, this is how they describe suspended disqualification:
A suspended disqualification of the Russian national team from UEFA EURO 2016 for the crowd disturbances. In accordance with Article 20 of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations*, this disqualification is suspended until the end of the tournament. Such suspension will be lifted if incidents of a similar nature (crowd disturbances) happen inside the stadium at any of the remaining matches of the Russian team during the tournament.
Russian fans will have to tread carefully as UEFA are not in any mood to entertain similar offences.
