Russian MP on violence: 'Well done lads, keep it up!'
A Russian Member of Parliament has lent his support to his compatriot's vicious scenes in Marseille over the weekend.
Igor Lebedev, who is also on the executive committee of the Russian Football Union, tweeted out his positive words ahead of UEFA's probe into the conduct of Russian and English fans on Tuesday.
"I don't see anything wrong with the fans fighting," Lebedev wrote on Twitter, as translated by the Guardian. "Quite the opposite, well done lads, keep it up!"
Lebedev wasn't done in his commendable words for the barbaric acts in the French coastal city. He also suggested the horrific scenes were not the responsibility of Russian supporters in a series of tweets:
I don't understand those politicians and officials who are criticising our fans. We should defend them, and then we can sort it out when they come home.
What happened in Marseille and in other French towns is not the fault of fans, but about the inability of police to organise this kind of event properly.
He shared similar sentiments to news agency life.ru:
In nine out of 10 cases, football fans go to games to fight, and that’s normal. The lads defended the honour of their country and did not let English fans desecrate our motherland. We should forgive and understand our fans.
Numerous online videos and witness accounts have revealed that weapons were used on English fans, and meticulous preparations were made by a minority of Russian "fans" to ensure the barbaric acts were as destructive as possible.
Related - England fans: Russians brought England shirts for 'organised' attacks
It's just the violence in and around the Stade Velodrome that UEFA is able to punish, however, with images suggesting the Russians were the antagonists and perpetrators of the charge and subsequent fighting that happened after the final whistle of England and Russia's Euro 2016 opener.
With both teams now at risk of elimination from the tournament due to the behaviour of their followers, England manager Roy Hodgson and skipper Wayne Rooney released videos on Monday requesting better conduct and asking their fans to remain safe.
Related - Watch: Rooney, Hodgson call on England fans to behave
The decision on the punishment handed out by UEFA will be made a day before Russia is slated to play its second match of the tournament against Slovakia. England takes on Wales in Lens on Thursday.