Euro 2016: Media 'overreacts' to Marseille fight says fan
- Published
Reports of England football fans being involved in fights in Marseille have been "blown out of proportion", one supporter has told Newsbeat.
John, who did not want to give his full name, describes the confrontations as "a couple of little fights" which were over in 10 minutes.
One England fan has been arrested after police used tear gas during a clash with locals.
"I was outside the Irish bar when it kicked off last night in Marseille," he says.
"Everyone was having a good laugh and then unfortunately some local youths come down and started taunting the English.
"I think one French youth chucked a bottle in the middle of the English and then there was a few young English fans who obviously overreacted and chucked a chair at the French youths and that's when it all started to kick off."
Newsbeat shared a photo of the clean-up operation on Instagram., external
He says the response from French police, which involved dogs and tear gas, was swift.
John has been in France since Wednesday and says the atmosphere has been friendly between fans from a variety of nations, including Russia, who England are set to play on Saturday.
Chief Superintendent Steve Neill, a British policeman in charge of England fan security in Marseille, told BBC Radio 5 Live: "About midnight last night there was confrontation between a group of local youths and some England supporters.
"Local police moved in very quickly and utilised some tear gas to disperse the local youths and close the pub.
"The use of tear gas seems quite dramatic to us from England and the United Kingdom because we are not used to seeing it - but in mainland Europe it is a regular tactic and they restored order fairly quickly."
John says he thinks the media is to blame for making the fight seem worse than it was.
"They were having a laugh, drinking, singing but weren't out for the trouble," he says.
"We're not out here, none of us want to get locked up. We're going to the game, that's all."
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