Russia blames EURO 2016 fan violence on provocation

Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko says he cannot rule out the country's soccer fans being involved in more violence at Euro 2016 tournament in France because they are constantly being provoked, the TASS news agency is reporting.

Russia, whose fans fought pitched battles in Marseille at the weekend with their English counterparts, are due to play Slovakia later on Wednesday in Lille where English and Welsh fans have gathered ahead of their two teams' game on Thursday.

"I do not have any certainty that disorder involving Russian fans will not be repeated," TASS quoted Mutko as saying. "Our fans are constantly being provoked. And whatever happens, it is immediately said that the Russians are guilty."

Russian state TV on Wednesday broadcast what it said was footage of an English fan stamping on a Russian flag in Lille, part of what Russian officials said had been a pattern of offensive provocations towards Russian supporters.

European governing body UEFA has said Russia will be thrown out of the tournament if there is a repeat of the violence by Russian fans which marred the end of last Saturday's match against England.

"There are now 15-20,000 Russians in different towns (in France)," Mutko was cited as saying. "Most of them want to watch good football."

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov told parliament on Wednesday it was impossible to ignore what he said were outrageous provocations by English football fans at Euro16, the RIA agency reported.

"We cannot close our eyes to the absolutely provocative actions by supporters from other countries," Lavrov was quoted as telling parliament.

"You have probably seen the outrageous images on TV when the Russian flag is getting stamped on and when insults are being screamed about the Russian (political) leadership and about leading Russian sports people."

Talking about violence involving Russian fans, President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said separately the Kremlin hoped there would be no further "excesses" and that any investigations into violence would be even-handed.