Russian hooligans get stern warning
At their peak, Russian hooligans felt like gods.
One hooligan from Moscow recounted his part in brawls with English fans at the 2016 European Championship. “We went for the English, who were kings, to knock them off their throne,” he said.
But ahead of the World Cup, Russian authorities are cracking down on the hooligan culture in football. Groups that wreaked havoc two years ago are reporting surveillance and threats from law enforcement.
Leading hooligans from each club face lengthy prison sentences on old or trumped-up charges if there’s trouble at the
World Cup, even if they aren’t personally involved, the Moscow hooligan said. He likened their situation to that of “hostages” and said the hooligan scene in Russia “is finished.”
“All the leaders get called in for chats,” he said, imitating an officer: “‘On behalf of our state security service, I’ll explain that if there are problems, then those guys are in prison and you’ll be joining them. We need everything to go quietly.’ It’s been done precisely so that everyone understands that even if there’s no case against you, your guys will get it in your place.”
Pulisic dropped: Midfielder
Christian Pulisic was among seven players dropped from the U.S. roster for exhibitions at Ireland and France, and 10 additions included defender DeAndre Yedlin, midfielder Tyler Adams and forward Bobby Wood.
Heath returns: Midfielder Tobin Heath is back on the U.S. women’s national-team roster after spending the start of the year recovering from ankle surgery.
Coach Jill Ellis named a 23player roster for two exhibition matches against China next month.
Also returning are Santa Clara alum Julie Ertz, who missed two April exhibition matches against Mexico with a knee injury, and Stanford alum Christen Press, off the roster for Mexico because she was not on a club team. She’s now is in Sweden with Goteborg.
Cincinnati gets MLS team: Major League Soccer added Cincinnati in its latest round of expansion. The announcement brings MLS to 26 teams, two shy of its goal. Miami and Nashville also are getting expansion franchises. The league held off awarding the 26th spot because of issues with candidates Sacramento, Detroit and Cincinnati.