43 Russian fans in police custody over Marseille violence

People leave the stadium following clashes between Russian and English supporters on June 11, 2016. PHOTO: AFP

MANDELIEU-LA-NAPOULE, France (AFP) - French police on Tuesday detained 43 Russian football fans and believe some of them could be tried over Euro 2016 violence in Marseille, officials said.

The arrests followed a showdown between the Russians, who were in a bus in southern France heading for their country's next match in Lille, and French authorities.

Police surrounded the bus and forced the Russians to undergo identity checks.

No Russian nationals were arrested on Saturday when Russian and English supporters fought pitched battles in the Vieux Port area of Marseille.

But regional government official Adolphe Colrat said Marseille prosecutors believe they have enough proof to charge some of the supporters over the fighting, which was the worst violence at an international football tournament since the 1998 World Cup.

"We have sufficiently accurate information that at least some of them took part in the unacceptable violence," Colrat said.

The supporters could be charged, released or expelled from France, Colrat added.

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