England superfan who was attacked and left for dead by Russian hooligans two years ago urges Three Lions supporters to boycott the World Cup
Stewart Gray, 50, who was in a coma for a month after the brutal Euro 2016 attack, has urged fans to stay at home
AN England superfan who was left for dead by Russian football hooligans two years ago has urged fellow supporters to boycott the World Cup next week.
Dad-of-three Stewart Gray, who suffered horrendous brain injuries in the Euro 2016 attack, warned travelling supporters: "Their fans are animals and might try to kill you too!"
"The Russians treat matches like a military operation," the 50-year-old told SunOnline. "Like a war, not a game."
"For your own safety don't go or you may end up getting assaulted like me. Not one of my friends or family will be going."
"Don't put your lives in their hands. Don't go to the tournament. Watch it on TV at home or in pub. It's much safer."
Witnesses saw Russian thugs smashing a brick and chair over Stewart's head during a mass brawl before England's opening match against Russia.
Portsmouth supporter Andrew Bache, 52, was also left fighting for life during after being ambushed by baton-wielding Russian yobs at the so-called Battle of Marseilles.
Leicester City-mad Stewart spent the next month in a coma and when he awoke in a French hospital, had no memory of the trip, the attack or his beloved Foxes winning the Premiership.
He was brought back home and treated at a brain unit at Leicester General Hospital and later Leicester Infirmary, only recently being discharged after making a miraculous recovery.
But Stewart, who admits he is "lucky to be alive", cannot return to work or drive because of the long-term effects of his injuries.
He said: "I’m thankful that my brain has totally recovered from injury and my body has recovered 90 per cent.
"I've made an amazing recovery, it's a miracle... I could have come out of the coma as a cabbage. I'm a bit forgetful at times but I always was!
"It's funny how the brain has just shut down on a certain period of my life... I have no memory of that trip.
"I was discharged in November 2016 and became an outpatient, moved into my mum's home in Market Harborough. It's not a good look living with your mum at 47!"
Stewart hopes his attackers will be found and brought to justice while French police have confirmed those responsible will face attempted murder charges.
Once a die hard fan who travelled to matches across the globe, Stewart now say there is "absolutely no way" be cheering on the Three Lions live in Russia.
His warning to around 10,000 England fans expected to fly to Russia next week echoes the British Government's concerns.
Those following Gareth Southgate's squad have been told to "respect their hosts" and expect "off the scale" levels of military-style police at stadiums.
Fans have also been warned not to display St George flags on sensitive World War Two memorials or to provoke locals by singing inflammatory songs.
Deputy Chief Constable Mark Roberts, the head of football policing, said hooligans consider rival flags "trophies", seeing them as "imperialistic" and "antagonistic".
Well wishers have helped raise more than £25,000 to help pay Stewart's medical bills after he was airlifted back home to the UK.
Stewart, who lost his father to prostate cancer before the attack, admitted: "I’m glad he never saw me in that state."
Stewart, who is separated from his wife, has daughters Daisy, 25, and Asia, 17, and son Harvey, 23.
He is being supported by his close-knit family and girlfriend Sarah Rowley, 49, a National Grid communications worker.
But he lost his job and now has to rely on benefits because he has not been well enough to drive or concentrate on his demanding job for a Northampton manufacturer.
"I have to rely on lifts from my girlfriend and friends all the time... I'm stuck at home all day but get to the gym twice a week for physio and light weights.
The Foxes season ticket holder still goes to all of City's home games, usually with one of his daughters.
His brother Neil Gray, from Cornwall, is helping him fight a civil case for criminal injuries compensation.
Neil said: "Stewart may have been attacked by the same group who attacked Andrew Bache and who have been arrested but there is no concrete evidence.
"But there is a strong suspicion because there is CCTV evidence and we’re trying to get updates."
Stewart would need to go to France for a medical examination by a French doctor to assess the nature of his injury, he said.
He said: "Before the attack I travelled all over the world watching matches. I've been to 40 countries, but I'll never go abroad again for football.
"Those Russian hooligans have put an end to that. I wish my attackers could be found and brought to justice.
"They deserve that. They behaved like animals towards me and other England supporters."
Chief Superintendent of Northumbria Police Steve Neill, who witnessed the violence first-hand, previously described it as "football hooliganism on a different level".
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