The outburst of violence came despite a heavy police presence a day before England is to play Russia at the European Championship in the Mediterranean port city's Stade Velodrome.
There were no immediate reports of injuries or arrests. When the tear gas cleared, hundreds of England fans remained in the area, singing and waving English flags as riot police stood nearby, watching closely.
When a car with flashing police lights drove by at one point in the evening, a fan threw a beer bottle at the vehicle.
The manager of an Irish bar near where soccer supporters from England fought overnight with locals in Marseille's historic center said youths from the city's gritty suburbs provoked the clashes.
The brief clashes have revived bitter memories of days of bloody fighting in this Mediterranean port city between England hooligans, Tunisia fans and locals of North African origin during the World Cup in 1998, and raised fears of more violence ahead of tomorrow's match.
French Interior Ministry spokesman Pierre-Henry Brandet said four police officers were lightly hurt in yesterday's violence and police detained two people, one French and one English.
"We are confident that the safety of travelling fans will be ensured by the local authorities which are responsible for order in the city. We make an appeal to all fans to behave respectfully throughout the tournament."
Following deadly attacks in Paris by Islamic extremists and fears Euro 2016 is also a target, security already is at an unprecedented high for the month-long tournament that kicks off today in Paris when host France takes on Romania.
Anthony Heraud, the 34-year-old manager of Irish pub O'Malley's, told The Associated Press that local youths started the trouble yesterday in the Old Port.