Mark left by Russia fan violence causes concern over safety at 2018 World Cup
MOSCOW: Russia’s footballers failed to leave a mark on Euro 2016 but brutal violence by hardcore hooligans in France sparked fears about the World Cup that Russia will host in two years.
Images of Russians in organised groups in Marseille and Russian far right football fan chief Alexander Shprygin taunting French authorities with his Tweets before being expelled shocked many in Europe.
As the European Championship ends, security experts are turning warily to the 2018 World Cup even though it is a prestige project for President Vladimir Putin whose government has insisted that no off-the-field disorder will mar the event.
“We will do everything to make sure that the teams and the supporters feel good and secure,” Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko, who also heads Russia’s football association, told journalists on Tuesday.
Putin on Monday signed off on a law that tightens controls at games and will see the interior ministry publish online a black list of supporters banned from matches.
The president also set up a centralised headquarters for the safety operation at the World Cup under the control of the FSB security agency. World body Fifa has sought to give backing to Russia’s organisation of the event. “The 2018 World Cup will be a great treat for every visitor who comes to Russia,” Fatma Samoura, Fifa secretary general, told a recent press conference in Moscow.
Samoura said that all sides had “observed France” and lessons from the tournament there this summer would be taken on board to make sure fans in Russia “enjoy a great football festival in a safe environment”. “COME TO RUSSIA!” - But critics say Russian authorities have consistently failed to take issues like hooliganism and racism that plague their game seriously -- with some at the top appearing to play down or even condone brutality by their fans.
France jailed three Russians and deported more than 20 others after prosectors said hardcore hooligans went on a “hunt” for England supporters in Marseille. The clashes left 35 people injured, with two England fans in a coma.
Russia was formally warned by Uefa that it would be thrown out of Euro 2016 after its fans went on a rampage in the stadium after their opening game.
But the reaction from the Russian authorities was muted and when condemnation did come it was often grudging. Putin was met by cheers and applause at a conference packed with high-ranking officials when he mischievously said he could not understand how “how 200 of our fans could beat up several thousand English.”