Euro 2016: Russia, England threatened with
disqualification over violence
(CNN)Russia and England could be kicked out of theEuro 2016 championship if their supporters are involved in further acts of violence at the tournament, UEFA has warned.
UEFA's executive committee told the football associations of both countries Sunday that their teams could face further sanctions -- including potential disqualification from the tournament -- if their fans were involved in a repeat of the scenes that marred their fixture in Marseille Saturday.
UEFA, the governing body of football in Europe, has already opened disciplinary proceedings against the Russian Football Union over its supporters' behavior in Marseille.
It faces charges of crowd disturbances, racist behavior and setting off fireworks Saturday in the southern French city's Stade Velodrome.
"UEFA expresses its utter disgust for the violent clashes that occurred in the city center of Marseille, and its serious concern for the incidents at the end of the match inside Stade Velodrome," UEFA said in a statement.
"This kind of behavior is totally unacceptable and has no place in football."
It said a decision on the sanctions would be made "within the next few days," once evidence had been considered.
No action has been taken against England's Football Association, whose fans were also involved in the clashes on the third straight day of football-related violence in the port city. UEFA is responsible for incidents at match venues, but not in surrounding areas.
Dozens injured, 8 arrests
At least 35 people were injured Saturday, four of them seriously, said Mathieu Duroselle, a spokesman for Marseille police. The number included three officers who suffered slight injuries, he said.
Eight people were arrested, including British, Russian and French citizens.
The British government said in a statement Sunday that six British nationals were hospitalized and several others had received treatment.
"The UK Government is deeply concerned by the violence in Marseille last night, including reports that in some cases England fans were attacked by rival supporters," it said. "We condemn the violence and urge calm on all sides."
It said it welcomed UEFA's launching of an investigation into the violence at the stadium, and had offered to send additional British police to France ahead of England's next match, against Wales in Lens.
FIFA, the sport's international governing body, also released a statement condemning the violence.
The organization said it was "wholly unacceptable to see such shameful scenes around football matches perpetrated by a minority of idiotic troublemakers, who have nothing to do with football and its true fans."
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