Euro 2016: French police designate Wales match against Russia as 'high risk' for further fan violence
More than 600 extra police officers have been deployed to the Stade de Toulouse on Monday
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Your support makes all the difference.French authorities have designated the European Championship match between Wales and Russia this evening as “high risk” for fan violence following the clashes in Marseille and Lille last week.
Russia have been handed a suspended disqualification from the tournament after supporters invaded the English section of the Stade Velodrome last Saturday night following the 1-1 draw between the two sides.
More than 600 extra police officers have been deployed to the Stade de Toulouse on Monday to compliment the 1,500-strong force already expected to be on duty for the Group B fixture.
Three Russian supporters have been jailed for their role in the widespread violence which has marred the opening weeks of the competition while England manager Roy Hodgson and captain Wayne Rooney have pleaded with fans to behave themselves while in France.
Meanwhile, Russia striker Fyodor Smolov has accused England and Wales supporters of being the instigators of the clashes, citing video evidence filmed on smartphones. The 26-year-old then advised fans to scuffle outside the venues with Uefa’s ability to impose further punishments limited to flash-points within the grounds themselves.
“I'm not really going to make any statement (over Russia fans), but I'd like the supporters to go on backing us,” he said.
“As for everything that goes on around us, there's a number of videos that have been uploaded on the web and clearly the English really did provoke them, and indeed the Welsh fans.
“If people want to go out with the intention of fighting, they should fight elsewhere. They shouldn't do it in the stadium,” he added.
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