'WE WERE CAGED AND TREATED LIKE ANIMALS': JAMIE VARDY'S WIFE REBEKAH TELLS OF 'HORRIFIC' TREATMENT BY FRENCH POLICE AS SHE WAS TEAR-GASSED ON HER WAY TO ENGLAND-RUSSIA GAME .

Jamie Vardy's wife was tear-gassed by French police as she travelled to England's match against Russia last night. Rebekah Vardy slammed the behaviour of officers as 'horrific' and claimed that English supporters were caged in 'like animals' as they tried to make their way into Stade Vélodrome in Marseille. Vardy did not make it onto the pitch to help his teammates in their Group B opener, with the game ending 1-1.

However, his lack of action was far from the mind of Rebekah as she tweeted furiously about the treatment of England fans. Before the match she posted a picture of herself holding a pint of beer as she enjoyed the 'carnage with England fans'. However, after the game she told a contrasting story. Rebekah wrote: 'That has to be up there with the worst experience EVER at an away game!

'Teargassed for no reason, caged and treated like animals! Shocking!

'I witnessed this with my own eyes! I can't comment on things I didn't see but what I got caught up in was horrific and uncalled for!

'And this happened before the game even kicked off!'


When MailOnline editor at large Piers Morgan called her tweets a 'shocking claim', Rebekah replied: 'Mr Morgan.....a fact! They closed the gates so the fans couldn't get through then tear gassed us!' As well as trouble on the way to the ground there were mass brawls inside, with Russian fans sparking brutal violence. Hundreds of English supporters hurled themselves over railings as they tried to flee from the stadium with stewards attempting to break up fights across rows of seats.

England goalkeeper Joe Hart was seen appearing to issue instructions to his worried wife Kimberly Crew to stay in the stands, as fights broke out on the terraces across from where she was standing. He mouthed the words: 'Be safe, stay here' as he pointed to the pitch, moments after the final whistle. UEFA has announced that it will launch an investigation into the crowd incidents this evening, with Russia set to face stern disciplinary action for their role in the violence.

French police have spent the past three days and nights trying to quell the brawling on the streets of Marseille's Old Port district, as Russian and English fans battle each other and local youths. Yesterday marked the worst day of brutality in the city since the clashes started on Thursday and Friday. Police were forced to fire water cannon and tear gas into the crowd in an effort to quell fighting between warring fans.



The violence has resulted six English arrests with many other supporters left injured. It is believed at least 31 people are receiving treatment in hospital as a result of the brutality, with the group including three police officers. Three people are in a serious condition after suffering injuries in the mass brawls, their nationalities are not known.

One England fan, who had been knocked to the ground and kicked in the head during a clash with Russian fans, is in a critical condition after he suffered a heart attack.


The Russian hooligans, who reports say were armed with knives, charged at England supporters and set upon the middle-aged man, this afternoon. Police were seen trying to resuscitate the man using CPR, while he was also placed in the recovery position, as he lay unconscious on the ground.


Kimberly Crew (pictured, standing centre) looks concerned as violence breaks out in Stade Vélodrome.

The Provence newspaper reported: 'An England supporter is in between life and death. The man who is in his 50s, who received a number of blows to the head, is in a critical condition. He suffered a number of injuries.' His friend told MailOnline: 'He got knocked to the ground and kicked in the head for nothing. He was not doing anything when some lads attacked him - French, Russian - I don't know who they were.'


He added: 'And then the police charged. They always blame the England fans but we didn't do anything.'

As fighting swept across Marseille for the third night in a row, rumours were circulating on social media that an English fan had died after he was thrown in front of a Metro train by a Russian supporter. However, this was denied by the British Ambassador to France, Julian King, who confirmed the injured party was a French woman who was in hospital receiving treatment.


A Russian fan kicks an English supporter as violence spreads from Marseille's streets and into the Stade Vélodrome after the 1-1 draw this evening.

Mr King did not say if the woman's injuries were linked to the clashes between hooligans. A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: 'We are in contact with French authorities about a British national injured in Marseille and stand ready to provide further support.' Britons in France who need consular support can contact the embassy 24 hours a day on +33 1 4451 3100.

The FA have condemned the brawling in Marseille with spokesman Mark Whittle saying 'the FA is very disappointed by the terrible scenes that we saw there and of course condemns such behavior.' He called on French authorities 'to identify those involved in the troubles and deal with them appropriately and quickly.'


An England fan has CPR performed on him by riot police after he suffers head injuries caused by Russian fans on the third day of violence in Marseille


Like the FA, the Russian Football Union (RFU) is also facing criticism and scrutiny due to the behaviour of their fans in Marseille. However, Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said the violence should have no baring on his country's holding of the World cup in two years time. As he left the Stade Vélodrome, Mutko, who is the head of the RFU and has senior roles in FIFA, said: 'What's the 2018 World Cup got to do with it?'

World Cup organizing committee CEO Alexei Sorokin also told reporters, 'the World Cup is in two years, this is a different tournament.' As the authorities tried to deal with the fighting in Marseille, Northern Ireland fans engaged in street battles with local youths in Nice.


According to a Northern Ireland police officer accompanying fans at the scene, French riot police moved in after Nice thugs hurled bottles at Northern Ireland supporters in cafes near the central Place Massena. 'About 20 to 30 Nice youths started throwing bottles at the Northern Ireland fans. Some bottles were thrown back, some punches were thrown,' the officer said. French police arrived to contain the situation.' Dozens of riot police were on the pedestrian street after the incidents ended.



Riot police police use a water cannon to blast jets into crowds of clashing supporters in order to separate gangs into different streets