if you havent seen footage of the flare gun being fired at the england fans inside the stadium whilst the game is on, seek it out.

russia have to be banned now.

reports of fans with balaclavas, gum sheilds and knuckle dusters in the stadium.

if the french authorities cannot keep people safe, should they stop the tournament?

The fact that they got in the flare has to be a massive worry. I'm not an expert but surely the security looking for terrorist items will have noticed it.

Can you disguise a bomb/weapon as a flare gun?

Are security OK with flares and so found it and let it in anyway. Or they they miss it?

Everything that happened inside the stadium last night seemed to be instigated and carried out by Russians. It will be interesting to see what sanctions UEFA bring to bear against them.

I can never understand how flare guns make into any stadium at any time, nevermind in these supposedly heighten security times.

When is it ever okay to bring a gun into a football stadium??

there is no real need to ask this

russia need to be thrown out, fines are not enough.

The french have proved they cannot handle them, it is no longer safe

It's not. Things happen that aren't ok.

Yes, I think that's spot-on. The troublesome English fans these days are mainly just rowdy drunks. Unpleasant but not really dangerous. The Russian ultras are completely different. They are organised and have come with the intent of causing physical harm to practically anyone they can find.
Eye witness reports from journalists confirm this. Some were sitting outside restaurants with peaceful English fans before the game when a gang of 150/200 Russian thugs rushed through. They had makeshift uniforms of black shirts, some wearing balaclavas and many were armed with knives. They started slashing out at anyone, including families with children.
I'm not defending the Engilsh yobbish behaviour, but from the evidence, the actions of the Russians was on a completely different level. It remains to be seen how the Engilsh fans react to this, will they want some payback ? It wouldn't surprise me, there's an enormous number of English fans over there.

Haven't they?

I hate to use a link from the DM but this article indicates otherwise.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...-violence.html

Don't tell me you trust what the Russians are telling you .

Should tak the WC off em.

i hate to ask this, but why are they selling beer in bottles still?

whatever happened to plastic glasses or nothing?

I think a good group at these Euros would have been Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and Poland that would have put the world on the verge of WWIII

that could be the semi finals!

i believe england return to Marseille for their games if they qualify!

I pity the locals

Yeah, the locals are all sweetness and light.

what a sweeping statement you are making!

You're the expert.

"He said: 'I am personally most interested in two games, us with the English, and Ukraine against Poland.
'First I'll try to support my national team and pull the English around Marseille, and then will go to support our Ukrainian brothers against the Polish whores.

'As much as it is surprising, given our [country's] relations with Ukraine, for me they remain brothers.'"
Interesting that Russian ultra would say that in particular re BiB. Do his views represent Russian ultras in general? If they can see the Ukrainians as their brothers that's good but why take a different view on Poles? Why would he call them 'whores'?

Partly religious difference, Poland although slavic is Catholic. Partly Ukraine was historically part of Russia, Kiev being the origin of Russian culture, hence Russia's determination to hang on to it.

Breaking news. UEFA have threatened to disqualify England and Russia if there is any more trouble.

I never considered the religious angle as I never thought Russians would have a problem with catholics. I thought Catholic-Orthodox relations were quite good but it is one thing that seperates the Poles from the Russians so I see your point. As you said, the Poles are Slavic so that's why I'd have expected the Russians to see the Poles as their brothers, or at least distant cousins!

I'd heard about that too. Apparently they see Ukraine as "the cradle of Russian identity" or something like that. Rather like the English identity starting from the Angles and Saxons who migrated to Britain from (what's now) Northern Germany. Oddly though, while the English have called Germany many things, "the cradle of English identity" never seems to be one of them.

Two things, 1) I doubt the thugs care about such things, and 2) I doubt UEFA will follow through with this threat, it is just a case of trying to look strong without having to actually do anything.

Just yet another empty and hollow threat.

Very true!

In normal circumstances, I'd agree with you. But after the terrorist attacks, I can't see the French (or UEFA) taking any chances. All the well publicised security and then gangs of thugs are taking over the streets ? It's making them look ridiculous.

Wake up sheeples?