Safety

No second Marseille

Two high-risk games to you within 24 hours. The notorious Fans from Russia and England put the authorities in the Northern French city of Lille on alert. Max Hofmann from Lille.

It almost looks like an official state visit: On the one hand, the Slovak Fans, on the other hand, the Russian. Directly in front of the North train station “Lille Flandre” greet, smile, shake hands. The images of the riots in Marseille are very far away. “A bit unfair” Natalia Kirilinskaya, the UEFA, the Russian team with a tournament-threatened exclusion. The Hooligan riots in the South of France were eventually to have been involved not only Russians. “Many Nations,” she says, and one of her travel companions explained it in more detail: “In a Restaurant Russian families were sitting, quite relaxed, and in the next, drunken Fans from England without T-Shirts.”

Many of the Russian Fans who came for the game against Slovakia to Lille will feel misunderstood. “We just want to enjoy the football”, you hear again and again, and in fact, everything seems peaceful and relaxed.

Russian Fans before the game against Slovakia, even after the defeat against Slovakia, they remained quiet

Behind the Scenes in the Northern French town but there is great turmoil. Clear sign: security forces everywhere, ranging from the regional police, to the CRS – a national unit that is specialized in such large-scale operations. After the riots in Marseille, the Region has increased once again belonging: a Total of around 3900 officials in Lille are in use. “The public space saturate”, it is called in the technical language.

“Authority of the state is not negotiable”

“Saturated” is also the operation center of the Prefecture of the North. On the wall big screens hang on the Live flicker-and-white images of surveillance cameras in black. Around 30 officials analyze the data, looking for signs of burgeoning violence. In between journalists and camera people jostling. The interest is huge, and the prefect, Michel Lalande, came itself to be held to answer. “The balance of power in the public space must be to our favor,” he says. In other words: The security forces are to dominate the squares and streets of the city. This is the crucial point and, once again, with emphasis: “Since there is no discussion.”

High station of the police of Lille operation in the Use of

The experienced public servants relies on a hard line. Seven of the polluter-pays-smaller riots had been arrested, four of them on the way back to Russia, says Lalande: “the authority of The state is non-negotiable.” In contrast to his colleagues in Marseille, he was able to learn from the first days of the championship. Previously, the country seemed to be more in line with the threat of a potential Islamist terrorist to deal with attacks. But now all thought of what havoc that can wreak football fans. Therefore, the primary objective of the Prefecture is to control: “All the movements of the Fans.” So, not only in the city, but also at airports, ports and toll stations.

Games are good Business

On Wednesday afternoon, the strategy seems to be catching on, at least initially. From the official side, you would never hear it, but for many residents, not only to the security forces. Sarah Hardy says it open: “We are here in the North a bit more relaxed than in the South.” The old rivalry between the “wild” South and the “prudent” the North of France, in the case of this topic, railway. Here in rainy Lille, the sun-kissed inhabitants of Marseilles are often seen as undisciplined, sometimes even as a racket.

On the organizing force of the North, you don’t want to trust here yet: Sarah Hardy works in the “Legend Café” in the center of Lille, and has, as a precaution, brought most of the tables and chairs from the terrace to the inside. “To Safety.” Otherwise, the two were high-security games “good Business,” she says, and served with a Smile and a few more plastic cups full of beer.

The Europe-to explore championship on the occasion of France: Natalia Kirilinskaya and companion

Include hardy’s guests, Natalia Kirilinskaya and your companion before the game against Slovakia. Marinated mussels with fries, the whole of the civilized preparing for the game. The 36-Year-old for three weeks with her husband in France. You follow the Russian national team – from Marseille, to Lille, and then to Toulouse. Maybe even more, depending on how the Russians cut off. In between Sightseeing in Brittany and beach holiday in nice. “The Russians are cheerful Fans,” says Kirilinskaya. “If you are here in Europe, then you will enjoy good food and good wine.” Then she thinks for a moment: “We just want to enjoy our time here, nothing else.”

Sovereignty over public space to keep

The game against Slovakia Russia loses with 1:2. Could this be the fuse for more violence as in Marseille doing? Towards the evening the Situation in the center of Lille, already more threatening than earlier in the day. This is predominantly but not to the Russian Fans. From the station, a new fan chants echo through the city centre. The English are there. On Thursday your Team plays in the nearby Lens against Wales.

Hunting for Russian Fans cause Trouble in Lille in the evening, English Hooligans

Hundreds flock to the pubs, here and there, plastic cups are flying, the beer smell in the air is stronger. Now the police can get in position. Suddenly fishing groups to race on the security forces. The respond with tear gas. Then the excitement subsides, and after some time everything begins from the front. Back and forth it goes, but the preliminary conclusion is: The authorities seem to have the situation more or less in the handle, the concept of the Prefecture. That may change, at the latest on Thursday, when the majority of English Fans to arrive. But the authorities are determined to retain sovereignty over public space. Lille will be no second Marseille.