French public prosecutor, Brice Robin, says that specially trained Russian hooligans are responsible for the violence that erupted beween English and Russian supporters in Marseille, after their European Championship match.
"These 150 supporters are, in reality, hooligans" Robin stated in a press conference.
"These people were well prepared to strike extremely fast, and extremely violent. These are well trained and disciplined men."
The Russian "ultra's" are well trained, and barely drink alcohol if at all.
"They are tough guys, who see fighting as sport instead of football", says hooliganism expert Ronan Evain.
They assaulted the English supporters like professional commandos, striking in small groups using coordinated attacks.
It is doubtful that the French reaction to the incident, banning the serving of alcohol for the rest of the EK, will have any effect, since alcohol is not the trigger for these hooligans. Their mission is to fight.
In the fight, 35 people were injured, of whom 4 are in hospital in critical condition. Nearly all wounded are British.
A 51 year old Brit, who was hit on the head with an iron bar, is still fighting for his life.
Only 2 Russians have been arrested.
Six British people, amongst whom a 16 year old kid, one Austrian, and 3 French people will be put on trial in Marseille this afternoon.
The board of UEFA has threatened to ban both England as well as Russia from the rest of the EC, if their supporters misbehave one more time.
The EUFA's disciplinary commission has officially charged the Russian football federation, for assaulting UK fans in the stadion, throwing fireworks, and being racists.
http://www.volkskrant.nl/sport/-russische-hooligans-in-marseille-waren-getraind-voor-extreem-geweld~a4319360/http://www.volkskrant.nl/sport/frankrijk-beantwoordt-gevechten-hooligans-met-alcoholverbod~a4318826/