French police are on high alert in northern Lille as fans from Russia, England and Wales are in town to watch their teams compete in the Euro 2016 tournament.
Russia has summoned the French ambassador after 43 Russian fans were arrested at the Euro 2016 tournament in France, while the foreign minister described the move "unacceptable".
Lille in northern France, was high alert on Wednesday as there were fears the arrival of tens of thousands of English, Welsh and Russian football supporters would lead to more outbreaks of hooliganism.
France has acted to expel a group of suspected Russian hooligans from the country, while another 43 have been taken into custody, in connection with Saturday's violence in Marseile.
Euro 2016 began with the threat of terrorism hanging over it, but instead it has been marred by the old plague of hooliganism and violence that has left several hurt. While fans were to blame, there are concerns that the French police are not prepared for potential trouble.
French prosecutors admitted on Monday that some 150 hardcore Russian hooligans escaped arrest after the weekend of violence in Marseille. Only ten fans face trial on Monday despite three days of trouble.
The French government has told police to ban booze near stadiums and will reinforce security measures in a bid to prevent the kind of violence that marred England's match with Russia in Marseille.
Football fans fought pitched battles for the third day in the French city of Marseille ahead of England's European Championship clash with Russia on Saturday.
President Francois Hollande must have been relieved by France's win at the opening match of Euro 2016 but even if the tournament goes smoothly, it is unlikely to change his dire ratings, analysts said.
With strikes spilling over in to Euro 2016 and threatening to cause chaos around the opening match, the French government has vowed to do whatever it takes to ensure the tournament runs smoothly and that could mean forcing strikers back to work on the trains.
In France's latest security measure to affect fans at the Euro 2016 tournament, cafés and bars have been banned from broadcasting games on outdoor screens.
While the government and media seem obsessed by the terror threat around Euro 2016, Parisians, who have learned how to cope with their fears, insist life must go on, and people should come to France.
Ukraine intelligence services claimed on Monday they had thwarted a plot to carry out a wave of attacks at Euro 2016. As skeptical French authorities investigate those claims, here’s what we know.
Authorities in Ukraine claim a Frenchman they arrested with an arsenal of weapons and explosives, was plotting to carry out 15 terror attacks in France before and during Euro 2016. French authorities remain skeptical.
Police in Paris say fan zones should be closed in the Paris when Euro 2016 matches are taking place because "exhausted" officers are already overstretched.
France's build-up to Euro 2016 descended into disarray on Wednesday after striker Karim Benzema accused coach Didier Deschamps of "bowing to pressure from racists" by leaving him out of the squad.
