The opening days of the EURO 2016 soccer tournament in France kicked off with a bang last weekend, with several days' worth of riots and pitch invasion marring the beauty on the pitch.
The chaos began in Marseille, ahead of a match pitting England against Russia on Saturday. After three days of scuffles between the two groups of supporters, which prompted an alcohol ban in fan zones, violence broke out inside and outside the stadium.
According to a Daily Mail report, "Several hundred English and Russian fans squared off in Marseille, hurling beer bottles and chairs and drawing volleys of tear gas from riot police who struggled to contain the fighting...Inside Marseille's Stade Velodrome the Balaclava-clad Russian thugs - wearing gum shields and mixed martial arts gloves and wielding telescopic truncheons - then charged at their English counterparts at the final whistle - as well as firing a flare gun into the England fans."
Video was captured of a flare being shot into a crowd of English supporters:
According to further reports, 35 were injured in the fighting, while 20 others landed in police custody. The hooliganism did not go unnoticed by the organizers of the tournament. England and Russia's football federations received warnings from governing body UEFA that more rioting could result in both teams being disqualified from the tournament. UEFA is also scheduled to lay down a punishment for Russia on Tuesday.
These threats prompted England coach Roy Hodgson and team captain Wayne Rooney to release a video urging fans to act responsibly for the rest of the tournament:
The unruliness continued in Paris Sunday during the Croatia-Turkey match at the Parc des Princes. A Croatia supporter ran onto the field after a beautiful goal by midfielder Luka Modric, embracing the celebrating players before being escorted away by authorities.
UEFA ruled that Croatia will face charges for "field invasion by supporters," and along with Turkey could face further disciplinary action for lighting and throwing fireworks throughout the match.
As an ardent fan of soccer, I don't want to see the game I love soiled by such behavior. Hopefully supporters can bring their emotions in check and simply enjoy the beautiful game. That's why they're there, after all.