By Samindra Kunti in Marseilles
June 19 – Euro 2016 was again scarred by crowd trouble Saturday with UEFA opening proceedings against Hungarian and Turkish federations after fans let off flares in stadiums. UEFA has now opened cases against eight of the 24 competing nations while supporters of other teams, notably England, have been caught up in public disorder in French cities.
Even Spanish fans yesterday brought discredit on the tournament despite Spanish and Turkish fans mingling peacefully in Nice ahead of the game. Alvaro Morata’s brace and Nolito’s strike ensured a comfortable Spanish victory and progress for La Roja to the knockout phase, but three Spanish ‘ultras’ fans were arrested for carrying neo-Nazi banners. Three others were arrested for trying to smuggle flares into the stadium.
After the final whistle Turkish fans lit flares at the Stade de Nice despite UEFA’s strict ban on all flares entering the stadium. On Saturday UEFA opened disciplinary proceedings against the Turkish Football Federation, the TFF, with charges of setting off fireworks, throwing of objects and field invasion.
An estimated 25,000 Hungarian fans flooded Marseille’s city centre and the surrounding areas of the Stade Velodrome before their group F match with Iceland. They came in good spirits, but a minority of the Hungarian fans were involved in scuffles with the local police.
Inside the stadium, Hungary’s fans clashed with stewards. A group of 100 hardcore fans, all wearing black shirts, in one corner of the stadium decided to join the other Hungarian fans behind the goal at the other end of the ground by climbing over a fence.
There was plenty of shoving and pushing between the fans and stewards, who tried to intervene before backing off. Fans crossed over as riot police moved in slowly to cordon off the area. Riot police also formed an additional on-pitch barrier in front of the Hungarian fans behind the goal.
“We had many fans there yesterday,” said Hungarian defender Richard Guzmics. “They were at the stadium during our game. There were maybe 20-25,000 of them. And they turned Marseille into a Hungarian city. I cannot really imagine anything bad that they could have done outside the stadium. But if they did, we encourage them to behave well outside and within the stadium next time.”
Hungary’s German coach Bernd Stock reacted indifferently when asked about the fans. He praised the Hungarian fans for backing the team so much.
UEFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against the Hungarian Football Federation, the MLSZ, with charges off setting off fireworks, throwing objects and crowd disturbances.
Disciplinary proceedings have also been opened against Albania, Croatia, Romania, Belgium and Portugal for various crowd disturbances, with each case involving the use of fireworks. UEFA has already handed Russia a suspended disqualification from the tournament after violence inside the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille after the 1-1 draw with England.
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