Russia’s fine and suspended disqualification from Euro 2016 was branded a “joke” yesterday by English journalists.

Uefa fined the Russian Football Union (RFU) €150,000 (£118,000) and warned that any more scenes like the ones in Marseille on Saturday will see the nation chucked out of the Euros.

However, the threat of being kicked out the tournament is the repeat of one issued over the weekend from the executive committee and the sanction against Russia says specifically that they will be disqualified only if there is more trouble inside stadiums.

British sports reporters currently in France made their feelings clear on social media, with one from the BBC calling it a “joke” while a Guardian writer tweeted: “Uefa’s suspended punishment of Russia says rioting, racism and flares during a match is just about OK, so long as it’s just the once.”

However, Russian striker Artem Dzubya felt it was unfair that his country was being singled out by European football’s governing body and the British media, claiming that English fans played a part in the fights inside the stadium. He said: “I don’t understand the attitude of the British media that British supporters are like angels. Be objective, it’s 50-50.”

We “accept this verdict but considers it extremely severe. We call one more time on Russian fans to behave correctly”
That sentiment was echoed by manager Leonid Slutsky, who was confident that his country will not be kicked out of Euro 2016.

Slutsky said: “We are sure we are not going to be kicked out. There will not be any injustice.”

The decision only relates to incidents which occurred inside the stadium and are therefore under the jurisdiction of the Uefa disciplinary bodies and is open to appeal.

Concerns have been raised about the prospect of more trouble over the next couple of days as Russia play in Lille, where many England fans are staying ahead of tomorrow’s clash with Wales in nearby Lens.

As a result, more British police officers trained in football disorder are being deployed to France.

Home Secretary Theresa May briefed the Cabinet on the move, including the deployment of additional British Transport Police officers on rail services around the area, following a request from the French authorities.

Fabienne Buccio, prefect of the Pas-de-Calais region, said Lens will be “in lockdown.”

He added: “We will have a strong police presence with more than 1,200 police officers present in Lens and you can add 1,200 more with the private security that will be mobilised that day.

“They will be present in the stands ready in order to intervene quickly in the stadium if there are clashes between supporters.”

As the Star went to press, videos and photos were released of English and Welsh fans being attacked in Lille by alleged Russian ultras.