FRANCE: TEN PEOPLE ARRESTED WHEN FIGHTING BREAKS OUT WITH ENGLAND SUPPORTERS THE DAY BEFORE ENGLAND'S WORLD CUP MATCH WITH ARGENTINA

Record ID: 376103

  • Title: FRANCE: TEN PEOPLE ARRESTED WHEN FIGHTING BREAKS OUT WITH ENGLAND SUPPORTERS THE DAY BEFORE ENGLAND'S WORLD CUP MATCH WITH ARGENTINA
  • Date: 30th June 1998
  • Summary: ST ETIENNE, FRANCE (JUNE 29, 1998) 1. WIDE OF FANS WATCHING YUGOSLAVIA-HOLLAND MATCH ON LARGE SCREEN IN STREET 2. BRITISH FANS WITH UNION JACK HATS 3. POLICE IN RIOT GEAR WALKING THROUGH STREET BY CENTRAL SQUARE 4. FANS ON SQUARE 5. RIOT POLICE CHASING FANS 6. FRENCH RIOT POLICE 7. BRITISH POLICEMAN FILMING FANS 8
  • Embargoed: 15th July 1998 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: ST ETIENNE, FRANCE
  • City:
  • Country: France
  • Reuters ID: LVABI9HVDEKI14S3XF2HF4HHWVUJ
  • Story Text: At least 10 youths, most of them French, were arrested when fighting broke out with England supporters in Saint Etienne the day before England's World Cup match with Argentina.

    Eyewitnesses said a group of French youths of North African origin, known as Beurs, started a fight with England supporters at around 10 p.m.(2000 GMT) in St Etienne's main square, Place Jean Jaures.(June 29).

    Police intervened and charged several times as isolated fights broke out between groups of about 50 England supporters and 50 local youths.

    Ten people, mostly French, from the suburbs of St Etienne, were arrested for fighting and throwing bottles, police said.

    Police said the main culprits were French youths, who appeared to be provoking England supporters.

    "The incidents happened because of an explosive cocktail of local youths and English supporters," an Interior Ministry spokeswoman said.

    In the Rue du President Wilson leading off the square, police closed off the road in an effort to isolate troublemakers.

    Police intervened at around 11 p.m.(2100 GMT), charging a group of several dozen people and arresting several.The atmosphere remained tense, although troublemakers were being dispersed.

    England fans were involved in widespread violence at their first match against Tunisia in Marseille and in other incidents in Lens when England played Colombia.


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