Law on fan misconduct at sports events approved in Russia

moscow — Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a bill into law stipulating an expansion in the administrative responsibility of misconduct by spectators at official sports events.

The relevant bill was earlier passed in all of the three readings by the Russian parliament’s lower house, the State Duma, and passed by the upper chamber, the Federation Council, on April 12, before it was submitted to the President for his final stamp of approval, which came on Monday, reports Tass news agency.

The new law, which comes as a set of amendments to the existing regulations, doubles fines for miconduct from 20,000-25,000 rubles ($357-446) up to 40,00050,000 rubles ($713-890). A detention of anywhere between 10 and 15 days remains in force.

The text of the law stipulates that all actions “which pose a threat to security, life and harm to the health of those present at sports events and surrounding vicinities” as well as all actions which led to a suspension of a particular sports event will draw the penalties.

The new law also stipulates various types of punishments for nonRussian citizens for violating the norms of behaviour during sports events. Foreign guests will be now a subject to a 15-day jail detention and a subsequent deportation from Russia for the acts of misconduct and hooliganism at stadiums.

The law also stipulates an entry ban to Russia, in case a foreign sports fan was previously charged with causing disorder during any format of public, sports, entertainment or any other mass events in Russia or any other country.

The law also stipulates ban on entry into Russia for any foreigner if there was proof about his or her intentions to be involved in any illegal activity at any scheduled sports event.

The issue of fan misconduct during sports matches is in particular focus of the Russian authorities as the country is to host for the 2017 Fifa Confederations Cup and the 2018 Fifa World Cup.

Numerous altercations were reported between football fans at the European championship held in France between June 10 and July 10, 2016.

The most notorious brawls broke out between Russian and English fans ahead of the June 11 match. Clashes erupted on June 9 in Marseille, peaking on the day of the match — June 12. —