England could have Euro 2016 progress decided by emergency panel

ENGLAND’S draw with Russia will be wiped from the history books if Leonid Slutsky’s team are booted out of Euro 2016.

By David Woods and Paul Brown

UNCERTAIN: If Russia were disqualified it could have a big impact on England's hopes

But UEFA officials admit they have no idea how that would affect England’s chances of qualifying if their Group B rivals are sent home.

Russia will be kicked out if there is crowd trouble at their remaining matches.

They were handed a suspended disqualification and £119,000 fine by UEFA for the fighting inside the Stade Velodrome in Marseille on Saturday at the end of their 1-1 draw, when thugs targeted innocent England fans.

There were also violent clashes in Marseille itself, but the punishment only relates to incidents inside the ground because they come under UEFA’s jurisdication.

French police blamed 150 highly-trained Russian ultra for the clashes inside and several were deported yesterday.

Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko branded the punishment unfair, but confirmed there would be no appeal, saying: “What does this have to do with the team? It is not guilty of anything.”

But should there be more fighting at today’s game against Slovakia in Lille or Monday’s final group B game with Wales in Toulouse the tournament would be thrown into chaos if UEFA go through with their threat.

Under article 27.03 of the Euro 2016 regulations: “If an association is disqualified during the competition, the results of all of its matches are declared null and void, and the points awarded forfeited.”

But a UEFA spokesman added that the rules are “open to interpretation and an emergency panel might be needed.”

In other words they do not know what would happen in England’s group and how it might affect qualification for the knockout stages.

Further trouble is anticipated given that both sets of fans will gather in Lille today - where Russia play Slovakia while England face Wales in nearby Lens tomorrow.

But furious Russia striker Artem Dzyuba yesterday claimed his country are the victims, with England fans just as much to blame.

The Zenit St Petersburg star also claimed there is a politically motivated agenda to get his team thrown out.

He said: “I don’t understand this kind of reaction of the British media who have this impression that English supporters are like angels who came to this country and they’re behaving themselves.

“You have to be objective and it’s 50-50. We saw some videos and there was some aggression. But we just see some parts, some fragments.

“Of course, we can publish those fragments. But we don’t want any politics in football. Please. We are talking about things which are not really football.

“We are not at a street fighting championship over here, we are talking about a football cup.

“We just don’t want things to be presented that there is a group of people who are trying to fight against someone. There are not only Russian and England fans who clashed.

“Is the criticism politically motivated? I cannot affirm it but it is possible, it’s probable. We can see the things the British media are talking about, talking about the World Cup 2018.

“They’re saying that they have to take it away from Russia.

“No-one knows what exactly happened. The rest is just politics. I think it’s wrong.”

Slutsky also accused England fans of disrespecting the Russian national anthem and abusing the team on the way to Saturday’s game.

He said: “When the Russian national anthem was played and all the people were shouting - the English supporters. This was not ethical at all.

“And all the gestures were received when we were on our bus on the way to the stadium from all these English supporters.”