Today Russia were handed a suspended disqualification by Uefa for their fans’ role in the violence that marred the opening days of Euro 2016.
Marseille turned into something akin to a warzone before, during and after Russia’s Group B opener against England.
It was almost impossible to avoid the terrifying footage of the violence that filtered out of Marseille on Saturday and the reports from journalists in the city were just as frightening.
Rangers’ new signing Joey Barton was on punditry duty in the Stade Vélodrome at the weekend, and he’s detailed his first-hand experience of running into the Russian Ultras before the game.
“I ran into the Russians in action myself earlier in the day and it was a scary sight,” Barton told the Mirror. “They were clearly highly organised.
“They operated like a military group.
“I was with two of my pals, one of whom had his young lad with him. We used a couple of underground Metros to try to get away from the problem areas but as I came up the stairs of one station I just ran into this gang.
“They were running round back streets because they were trying to cut the English fans off.
“We ran straight into them. But thankfully, they weren’t interested in us.
“There was 40 or 50 of them looking for groups of England fans. They weren’t picking people off in ones or twos. Fortunately, my mates and I weren’t wearing any England kit, just the little lad. We walked through the middle of them and there was no animosity. But everyone was petrified.”
