News Digest

Euro 2016: Russia’s far-Right football fan leader to be deported over violence

The far-right leader of Russia’s soccer supporters is to be deported from France as it tries to stem the explosion of violence marring the Euro 2016 tournament. Alexander Shprygin, pictured above left, was among 20 Russian fans being sent home after they were detained while travelling from Marseille to Lille to watch Russia face Slovakia on Wednesday. Stephane Bouillon, prefect for the region including Marseille, said they were being held in a detention centre but would be deported on Monday. They were suspected of “participation in skirmishes linked to the England-Russia game on June 11 in Marseille”, he added.

The English provoked our supporters by throwing beer glasses, making obscene gestures and shouting insults

Alexander Shprygin defends Russian fans’ violence

The arrests on Tuesday angered Moscow, which summoned the French ambassador to protest and claimed it was “further stoking of anti-Russian sentiments”. Mr Shprygin’s All-Russia Supporters Union is backed by the Kremlin even though he is said to hold far-right views and has been pictured giving a Nazi salute. French police blamed 150 “well-trained” Russian hooligans for the violence against England fans. Meanwhile, UEFA says it will not be taking action against England over the behaviour of its fans in Lille on Wednesday night. It said it regretted the unrest in which teargas was used to disperse boisterous crowds and riot police charged supporters.