Euro violence: Police use pepper spray, tear gas on England fans
According to Sky Sport, a group of England fans had earlier gathered outside the city’s main train station in anticipation of Russia supporters arriving back from the Stade Pierre-Mauroy following their side’s 2-1 defeat to Slovakia at Euro 2016.
There have been unconfirmed reports of fights between fans breaking out, but order was restored by police, who prevented a major confrontation by ushering Russian supporters through a back exit.
Pepper spray and tear gas were also briefly used by police to push England fans away from the train station.
Later in the afternoon, a number of England supporters broke off from a larger crowd that had congregated outside a bar and attempted to exit the main square, but were met by a line of riot police.
A second line of police then advanced from another corner of the square to force back the England fans, who were making their way towards a separate exit.
French authorities said they expected between 40,000 and 50,000 England and Wales fans and 15,000 Russians to gather in Lille with a smaller number of Slovakian supporters.
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