The Hurwitz subgroups of $$E_6(2)$$

Abstract

We prove that the exceptional group $E_6(2)$ is not a Hurwitz group. In the course of proving this, we complete the classification up to conjugacy of all Hurwitz subgroups of $E_6(2)$, in particular, those isomorphic to $L_2(8)$ and $L_3(2)$.