Packs of Russian and English football fans clashed in Marseille, France, on Saturday — in a third straight day of battles — before their two teams met in a match at the Euro 2016 championship.
Police in riot gear fired tear gas in an attempt to disperse the crowds, whose members hurled bottles and other objects at officers and attacked each other.
On the field, the Russians and English tied 1-1, but French authorities were determined that the fighting fans on the street would both lose.
At least 31 people were injured Saturday, four critically, in the clashes, said Mathieu Duroselle, spokesman for Marseille police. Three police officers were slightly injured, he said. A 51-year-old British man who was seriously injured was rescued by the police, Duroselle said.
Eight people were arrested, including two Russian and two British citizens, on Saturday. Those arrests followed five British and four French citizens being apprehended on Friday, Duroselle said.
The French Interior Ministry classified the England vs. Russia match “at risk” and police deployed reinforcements.
“About 1,000 police officers were deployed to secure the game,” Duroselle said. “The situation seems calm now by the stadium and it seems like bars are closed.”
The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) released a statement saying it will make an announcement Sunday regarding disciplinary proceedings, after they have “received information from our disciplinary department.” This could mean sanctions for Russia or England or both.
“People engaging in such violent acts have no place in football,” said the UEFA, the administrative body for association football in Europe.
French taking extraordinary steps
The French Interior Ministry announced international moves to keep hooligans out of the country during the UEFA European Championship.
The British government retained the passports of the 3,000 people considered hooligans, stopping them from coming to France during the whole competition, at the request of French authorities.
There have been 3,000 entry denials by the Minister of Interior, based on lists of people who are banned from stadiums in different countries participating in the competition, or individuals likely to disrupt the order in national territory,” the Interior Ministry said.
Other steps included the bars closing early in the Vieux-Port area in Marseille — the same area violence broke out Thursday and Friday nights among football fans. CNN spoke with multiple bars in Vieux-Port that said they shut their doors at 8 p.m. local time Saturday.
Among the bars is O’Malley’s, an Irish pub that usually closes at 11 p.m.
As reported by CNN