Supporters could face Russian rage

AN official fans’ guide for the World Cup is warning gay supporters not to openly display their sexuality in Russia.

The Football Supporters’ Federation (FSF), which represents more than half a million fans, has issued advice to lesbian, gay and transgender followers.

The guide, which will be handed out in Russia, says: “Whilst often you are able to behave as you would in the UK, certain things must be treated with caution in societies less tolerant than back home.

“There is no reason not to come to the World Cup if you are LGBT. It is strongly advised that you do not publicly display your sexuality.” Same-sex sexual activity has been decriminalised in Russia since 1993 but fans are told “propaganda for non-traditional sexual relations” to minors has been banned since 2013.

The Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta reported last year 200 men accused of being gay were rounded up in Chechnya, tortured and even killed. And the crackdown has now also spread to other areas.

Thousands of fans are expected to travel to the tournament, which kicks off next Thursday.

■ Cricket legend Freddie Flintoff and Kaiser Chiefs frontman Ricky Wilson have recorded an unofficial World Cup anthem for England, a version of Boney M’s 1970s hit Rasputin.

flag includes the words: “There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his Prophet.” Muslims reacted with fury.

They said the words should not be displayed where people are drinking alcohol. Landlords have now cut the Saudi flag from the 32-country display. A spokesman for Greene King said the original bunting “was inappropriate as it contains the religiously-significant Islam Shahada in Arabic and so we removed it.”