A full account of the events surrounding England’s match with Russia may never be forthcoming. Eyewitness accounts, though numerous, can only tell a fragmented part of the story, but the television footage of Russia supporters charging at England fans, and statements by French prosecutor Brice Robin, seem to make clear that the intention to provoke conflict came from a section of the Russian crowd. In his statements, Robin spoke of 150 ‘well-trained’ Russian men instigating the violence. “These people were well prepared for ultra-rapid, ultra-violent action. These are extremely well trained people,” he said. But Russian spectacles look upon the events through slightly different tinted lenses.
The Kremlin, the far right and football - Just how bad is Russia's hooliganism problem?
