Marseille (France), June 12 (IANS): A 50-year-old English man is battling for his life at a hospital here after assault by a group of Russian fans ahead of the Euro 2016 Group B game between England and Russia, Marseille police official Laurent Nunez, has said.

The man suffered a heart attack and was resuscitated by police, and was rushed to a hospital in that city in critical condition on Sunday, reports Efe.

The attack came near the Vieux-Port district of downtown Marseille when fans clashed hours before the start of Saturday night's match at the Stade Velodrome, which ended in a 1-1 draw.

Authorities said the English man received several blows with a metal bar, some to the head.

A total of three English fans were hospitalised with serious injuries, Marseille's city government said.

The opposing fans squared off in a pitched battle in the city's downtown for several hours despite the deployment of riot police, who used tear gas and water cannon.

It was a third consecutive day of violent incidents in Marseille, mostly involving English hooligans, dozens of whom have been arrested.

French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve condemned the violence, blaming it on "pseudo-fans".

There were also violent incidents inside the Stade Velodrome during Saturday night's match, with reports of fighting and the setting off of flares.