Hundreds of fans were photographed drinking outside pubs in Marseille on Friday before the situation escalated between football supporters and police.
Kevin Miles, the chief executive of the
Football Supporters’ Federation, said he England fans were drinking peaceably but a group turned out and tried to provoke them.
He told The Guardian: “It was all fine until, our understanding is, a group of around 30 to 40 locals turned up, I think with the intention of provoking the England fans to see if they could get a rise out of them.
“In those circumstances, it’s the police’s job to prevent a confrontation and they used French methods to do so, which we’re not particularly used to.”
Ambulances were seen arriving after police carrying riot shields moved in to separate the two groups and tear gas was used to clear the area.
Bars and restaurants have been banned from showing the games on large TV screens in a bid to stop fans gathering and improve security.
On Thursday, England supporters chanted “Isis, where are you?” during a pre-Euros clash with locals in Marseille, which also led to police firing tear gas on them.
England is set to play their first match against Russia on Saturday evening at 8pm BST...