Pussy Riot upstages Putin during final
MOSCOW — Protest group Pussy Riot, long a thorn in Vladimir Putin’s side, claimed responsibility Sunday for four people who brought the World Cup final to a brief halt by running onto the field dressed in police uniforms as the Russian president and a global audience watched.
Stewards tackled the three women and one man who charged onto the field simultaneously in the 52nd minute of France’s 4-2 win over Croatia at one of the world’s most viewed sporting events.
Croatia defender Dejan Lovren pushed the man, helping a steward to detain him, and suggested the incident put Croatia off its game. Before being hauled away, one of the women reached the center of the field and shared a high-five with France forward Kylian Mbappe.
“Hello everyone from the Luzhniki field, it’s great here,” the heavily political punk-performance group said on Twitter, and released a statement calling for the freeing of political prisoners, an end to “illegal arrests” of protesters and to “allow political competition” in Russia.
“The citizens in question were taken to the local police station,” the Moscow branch of the Russian Interior Ministry said.
Pussy Riot rose to global prominence after several balaclava-wearing female members sang a raucous song denouncing Putin in Moscow’s main cathedral. Two of them served nearly two years in prison for the protest.
Paris celebrates: France fans did justice to the national team’s victory, pouring into Paris’ Champs-Elysees Avenue by the tens of thousands to celebrate with cheers, stomping and song in an explosion of joy.
“It represents enormous things,” said Goffrey Hamsik, dressed in a hat resembling a cockerel — the French national symbol — and a shirt with the No. 10 for Kylian Mbappe, the 19-year-old forward who hails from the Paris suburb of Bondy.
“We’ve had lots of problems in France these past years,” Hamsik said, recalling deadly terror attacks. “This is good for the morale and unites us.”
People wrapped themselves in flags and dressed in crazy hats. One man was totally nude except for the tricolor, marching down the avenue where France displayed its military might a day earlier for Bastille Day. Revelers set off smoke bombs in the national colors — blue, white and red — obscuring Napoleon’s triumphal arch. People climbed atop newspaper kiosks and bus stops to wave flags and lead crowds in cheers. The national anthem, the Marseillaise, rang out and car horns honked.
Awards: Croatia midfielder Luka Modric was awarded the Golden Ball as the best player at the Cup . ... England’s Harry Kane won the Golden Boot for top scorer with six goals . ... France teenager Kylian Mbappe was voted young player of the tournament . ... Belgium’s Thibaut Courtois was named best goalkeeper.