Euro 2016: England manager Roy Hodgson urges supporters to ‘stay out of trouble’

MANAGER Roy Hodgson and captain Wayne Rooney have appealed directly to England fans to “behave themselves” after repeated violence marred the start of Euro 2016.

French prosecutors said 150 Russians were behind the most serious clashes before Saturday’s 1-1 draw between the two countries in Marseille.

But both teams now face expulsion from Uefa if there is any further violence.

In an unprecedented move Hodgson and Rooney recorded a video, shared by the Football Association on Twitter, in which they urge supporters to do everything in their power to avoid repeats of the violent scenes which marred the weekend.

Hodgson pleaded with fans to ensure UEFA’s threats to dismiss England and Russia from the tournament should there be further disturbances “are never carried out” while Rooney asked those without tickets for games not to travel.

“As England manager I’m obviously very concerned about the threat which is now hanging over us and the sanctions that could possibly be imposed upon the England team,” said Hodgson.

“We have worked very hard to get here and desperately want to stay. I am appealing to you to stay out of trouble.

“We appreciate your support at all our matches, of course, but I’m appealing to you to stay out of trouble and to try and make certain that these threats that are being issued are never carried out.”

Rooney told supporters: “Be safe, be sensible and continue with your great support for the players.

“I’d like to thank the England fans for the great support inside the stadium against Russia and now we have a big game coming up against Wales.

“I’d like to ask the fans, please, if you don’t have a ticket, don’t travel, and for the fans with tickets, be safe, be sensible, and continue with your great support for the players. Thank you.”

Jack Wilshire appealed to England fans to concentrate on the football side of things.

He said: “From what I saw of the fans in the stadium, they were brilliant.

“They helped us even in the warm-up and we really felt their support during the game. So if there’s anything I can say, it’s just to just concentrate on that side of things.

“I don’t know the full story, so I couldn’t stand here and start blaming people. We just want to concentrate on the football and want the fans to get behind the team.

“They’ve been brilliant, they always have been. Even when we went to Brazil, they were there.

“We just want to tell them to concentrate on the football side of things, really.”