Kremlin MP urges World Cup love-in between local people and foreign fans

RUSSIAN women and visiting football fans have been urged to be fruitful and multiply at the World Cup – by an MP.

After one caused a backlash on social media by advising Russian women against getting involved with foreign fans, one of her colleagues is urging love and procreation during the tournament.

“The more love stories we have connected to the world championship, the more people from different countries fall in love, the more children are born, the better,” MP Mikhail Degtyaryov said.

Mr Degtyaryov appeared to be doing damage control after Tamara Pletnyova warned Russian women to think twice before entering into casual relationships with foreign tourists because they may end up rearing their children alone.

Ms Pletnyova, who heads a parliamentary committee on children and families, also suggested Russian women should marry local men and said children born from mixed-raced marriages are unhappy.

The comments prompted criticism on social media, with some saying Ms Pletnyova’s views were racist and archaic.

Mr Degtyaryov, who heads a parliamentary committee overseeing sports, promoted a totally opposite view.

“Many years from now these children will remember that their parents’ love story began during the World Cup in Russia in 2018,” he said.

“I hope to God that there would be more loves stories, more children, more mixed unions. We welcome fans from all countries, skin colours, all religions, all genders and all (sexual) orientations.”

The Kremlin weighed in reluctantly on the controversy.

Asked about Ms Pletnyova’s comments, President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, told reporters the Kremlin has nothing to do with the matter.

“As for our Russian women, they will make their own judgment,” Mr Peskov said. “They are the best women in the world.”

He noted that spectators attending matches receive special World Cup identification cards that have the phrase “Say no to racism” written on them.

“This is probably the best way to characterise the atmosphere of this holiday and Russia’s approach to it,” Mr Peskov added.

Meanwhile, touts are still operating at the World Cup, despite claims of a crackdown by Fifa and Russian organisers on illicit ticket sales.

Sellers have been visible outside the main ticket office in Moscow, buying spare tickets from fans and selling at inflated prices.

The most in-demand tickets, such as for Argentina’s opening game, are being offered online for as much as £1,710, although buyers have no guarantee they are getting genuine access to the games.

Fifa has tried to cancel some tickets and last week filed a criminal complaint against ticket resale website Viagogo. Russia has made World Cup touting punishable by a large fine.