A Russian MP and executive member of the country's football union has praised Russian hooligans at the European Championships, saying they should "keep it up".
Igor Lebedev posted on Twitter: "I don't see anything wrong with the fans fighting. Quite the opposite, well done lads, keep it up!"
Russian thugs were involved in violent clashes with England fans in the streets of Marseille ahead of their match on Saturday and charged at supporters in the stands after the match.
French authorities have admitted around 150 "hyper violent" Russian hooligans escaped arrest after the incident.
But Mr Lebedev, from the ultra-nationalist Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, blamed French authorities in another tweet, suggesting police had an "inability to organise such events."
He also claimed Russia's sports minister, Vitaly Mutko, would have enjoyed taking part in the clashes, in a separate interview with website Life.ru.
"He would also go and fight the English fans since they were the ones who started it," Mr Lebedev said.
UEFA has warned Russia and England that they could face disqualification if there is further violence.
Marseille's chief prosecutor, Brice Robin, said the Russian hooligans were "extremely well-trained" and "prepared for hyper-fast and hyper-violent acts".
He said some Russian fans had been turned back when they arrived at Marseille airport, but others had arrived overland.
Six Britons have been jailed in France after facing charges of violence involving a weapon.
England supporters have said Russians were behind most of the violence.
One fan, George Amos, said 300 uniformed Russians "looking like the black death squad" had attacked him and his brother, wearing gumshields and MMA (mixed martial arts) gloves.
A 50-year-old England supporter in a "critical but stable" condition in hospital with severe brain injuries has been named as Andrew Bache.
Home Secretary Theresa May has said some England fans had behaved "inexcusably", but added she was "in no doubt that co-ordinated groups of Russian supporters bear a heavy responsibility".
There are fears of further clashes between the two groups later this week.
Before the tournament, English and Welsh supporters were advised to travel to Lille ahead of Thursday's game in Lens.
But Russian supporters will be in the city as they face Slovakia on Wednesday, and police are now reportedly suggesting that fans avoid Lille entirely.
"There is a hardcore group of Russian fans who are willing to use extreme violence," Assistant Chief Constable Mark Roberts, the head of Britain's policing operation for the tournament in France, told the Telegraph.
"It is realistic to expect that the Russian fans will seek to try to behave in a similar way."
Three thousand England fans were handed banning orders preventing their travel to France due to previous offences, while French authorities said only 30 Russian supporters were barred from travelling.
Half a million fans from the UK are thought to be at the tournament.
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