Euro 2016: Far-right Russian fan leader arrested in France two days after being deported

Alexander Shprygin was among 20 Russian fans expelled in connection with violence at the beginning of the Euro 2016 tournament

Russia's football fans leader Alexander Shprygin holds a flag as he leaves with others fans the international airport Sheremetevo near Moscow late on 18 June, 2016 after being expelled from France (VASILY MAXIMOV/AFP/Getty Images)

French police have arrested the leader of Russian football fans who attacked England fans two days after he was deported from France.

Alexander Shprygin, who has far-right affiliations and is president of the Russian Supporters Union, was among 20 Russian fans expelled in connection with violence at the beginning of the Euro 2016 tournament.

It was not immediately clear how he reentered France. A message on his twitter account said he had taken an unconventional route, and included a photo of a jet belonging to Spanish low-cost carrier Vueling Airlines.

Another post on his Twitter account showed a short video filmed inside the stadium ahead of Russia's match against Wales.

Shprygin previously warned all of the group would return to France to attend the Wales game if their visas were not cancelled.

After being detained at the time, he said: “We are to be expelled. I would like to stress, not deported but expelled.

"They are not deporting us with no right of further entry to the country, they are going to expel us. It means we will keep our visas.”

This file photo taken on December 21, 2010 shows then Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (R) and Russia's football supporters association head Alexander Shprygin walking to lay flowers at the grave of slain Spartak Moscow fan Yegor Sviridov in Moscow (AP)

"He was arrested this evening in Toulouse," a spokesman for the Interior Ministry said.

Additional reporting by Reuters