150 'well-trained' Russians 'behind' Euro 2016 violence; 2 England fans jailed

New Delhi: A group of "well-trained" Russian hooligans were reportedly behind the violence in Marseille when Russia played England in a Euro 2016 Group B match.

A report in BBC quoted a French prosecutor saying that 150 Russian football supporters "were well prepared for ultra-rapid, ultra-violent action" and were able to evade arrest.

However, a French court on Monday jailed two British men for their role in the Marseille fan battles before Saturday night's England-Russia match.

Ian Hepworth, a 41-year-old psychiatric nurse was sentenced to three months in prison. Alexander Booth, a 20-year-old chef, received a two-month term. Both were banned from France for two years.

They were the first of 10 men to be tried for their part in the mass fighting in the southern French city at the weekend, the worst violence to hit a major football tournament since the 1998 World Cup which was also held in France.

Another eight supporters arrested in the violence are to be tried on Monday — four more Britons, an Austrian and three French.

Besides, two Russians have also been arrested, both for a pitch invasion.

An English man in his fifties, who was seriously injured in the violence, is in a critical but stable condition in hospital.

Following the clashes, UEFA have warned both Russia and England that they could be disqualified from the tournament if their fans are involved in any further violence.

Some 35 people have been injured — four seriously, and most of them England fans — and a total of 20 people have been arrested after three days of disorder in the French city.