Euro 2016: Fedor Smolov accuses England and Wales of 'provoking' Russia fans during fan violence
Russia were given a suspended disqualification from the tournament after violence in Marseille
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Your support makes all the difference.Russian international Fedor Smolov has accused English and Welsh fans of provoking his countrymen during the fan violence in Marseille and Lille. His comments come as French police take added precautions to prevent more trouble around Russia’s Euro 2016 Group B match with Wales in Toulouse on Monday.
Russia face being disqualified from the tournament if there is trouble inside the ground after being given a suspended sentence by Uefa following an attack on English fans in the Stade Velodrome after their draw with England. Fans of both sides had previously fought in Marseille and there were further incidents in Lille when all three teams were playing in the area.
Krasnodar striker Smolov, who speaks English and played in the Netherlands with Feyenoord, said: “There have been videos uploaded online and clearly the English provoked them, the English and Welsh. Clearly these events must not go on in football stands. If people want to go out with the intention of scrapping then they should do so elsewhere, not in the stadium.”
French police, and the vast travelling Welsh support, will hope there is no scrapping inside or out of the stadium. The match has been raised to high-risk and police are understood to be checking vehicles as they enter the city. It is thought a group of around 100 Russians have been identified as potential trouble-makers.
Leonid Slutsky, the Russian coach, struck a more emollient tone when he said: “Any disorder, anything like that violence [in Stade Velodrome] is in the past as a number of measures have been taken after the match in Marseille. If it can help I would like our supporters to really get behind us, but within the framework of the existing legislation, in football and in civil society.”
There have been videos uploaded online and clearly the English provoked them, the English and Welsh.
Many Welsh supporters have stayed in the French south west after their opening match in Bordeaux, but they were less visible yesterday than previously with many apparently deciding not to wear their replica shirts.
Manager Chris Coleman said: “I ask Welsh fans to continue doing what they have been doing, enjoying the experience. They are representing their country the same as we are. English supporters in Lens, some sitting with our fans, said how much they enjoyed the game together. Everyone wants to win, but sometimes there is losers. Any animosity remains on the pitch. That where it stops. Football is to be enjoyed.”
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