Now the dust is beginning to settle on the opening weekend of Euro 2016, it's awful to see that the headlines have been dominated by fans, for all the wrong reasons.
Hooliganism has been rife in France since Friday, despite football being built on a foundation of togetherness and love for the beautiful game.
Fights and attacks rocked Marseilles on Saturday, but the trouble was multiplied inside the Stade Vélodrome after the final whistle blew in the England vs Russia match, as Russian 'fans' attacked the English.
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We spoke to a group of lads who were at the end of the stadium where the horror happened, and they gave us a detailed eyewitness account of what they saw.
Credit: ITV
Andy Burrows told TheLADbible: "Basically we were in the bit of the stadium that was attacked. I can't give you anything outside the stadium because we avoided it.
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"In the stadium it was really obvious that it was all going to kick off, but there were nowhere near enough stewards.
"When Russia scored loads of cups got thrown. Two minutes before the final whistle was blown they put a rope up [in between the two sets of fans], which was clearly pointless. Then as the whistle went everyone started sprinting towards us, so I naturally went away from that as far I could.
"It wasn't just England fan - there were lots of French and families with zero protection. There were even Russian fans among us who ran towards the ultras and then joined them.
"It seemed very organised by the Russians. Someone just behind me was on the floor getting kicked and then his shirt got ripped off as he got away."
A fan runs with a flare ahead of the England vs Russia France Euro 2016 match
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Credit: PA
Andy continued: "Everyone running into a corner meant that it was really close to being a crush. Some of my mates ran onto the pitch and helped kids over the barrier onto the pitch. I went up and everyone was trying to climb over the fence.
"Luckily a steward opened a gate. It was proper fight or flight and we all agreed on flight.
"Basically [it was] terrible stewarding considering it was clear what was going to happen, but I don't blame the stewards as there were far too few - they seemed just like onlookers.
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"[It was the] opposite of a Premiership match where there is a clear line between the fans."
There's absolutely no room for this in football.
Thousands have travelled to support their country in a tournament; their memories should be created by the players that they adore, not by the terrifying scenes in and around the stadiums.
Credit: Getty
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Andy's mate, Alex Morris, who also travelled to Germany in 2006 to watch the World Cup, said the difference in organisation between the two tournaments was largely at fault for the events.
Speaking to TheLADbible, he said: "We were right next to the Russian fans who rushed the English. A couple of minutes before the final whistle blew you knew something was about to happen. Flares began going off, and people just began to back off further and further.
"As we moved you could see a dad helping a group of kids, as the Russians moved over, grabbing the England flags that had been hung up and hitting people.
"We just kept moving back with everyone. The stewards were useless, they were down on the pitch watching, basically just being onlookers.
"We ended up at the bottom left hand side of the stand, just beside the goal, where we climbed over a fence and helped kids over."
Credit: ITV
Shocked by the admission that children were directly in trouble, we asked Alex if there were a lot of children and families involved.
He told us: "Yeah, we had to create a passage, shouting 'laissez les enfants par le biais de' - 'let the children through'.
"Throughout the event there were 'Russian Ultras', if you like, wearing balaclavas. It was clear that there was going to be trouble.
"There wasn't much segregation in our end. It wasn't just English, there were neutrals, French families and Russians.
"When their goal went in you could see the Russians in our end begin to move over to the rest of their supporters as if to say 'we're on your side'. As if they were getting ready."
Because of the complete contrast to what Alex witnessed ten years ago in Germany, we asked if it had put him off going to large international tournaments.
Alex told us: "The difference between the two [tournaments] was that Germany was so well organised. The atmosphere was brilliant, as was security and it was a brilliant trip, a brilliant holiday.
"Back then I suppose there wasn't as many political conflicts, but it all comes back to the fact that this has been poorly organised.
"It all seemed avoidable.
"You could see it coming. Before the game we were channeled down roads by police. They should have expected this.
"There seemed to be aggressive tactics from the Russians before we were even in the stadium.
"The main point is the safety of fans, or the total lack of it."
We hope all those already in, and travelling to France, regardless of nationality, will come together, look after each other and make this a tournament to remember for the right reasons.
To everyone: please stay safe.
Words by Mark McGowan
Featured image credit: Getty
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