Russia cancels dozens Confed Cup fan-IDs to prevent potential trouble during games

Record ID: 896320

  • Title: Russia cancels dozens Confed Cup fan-IDs to prevent potential trouble during games
  • Date: 21st June 2017
  • Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (JUNE 20, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF WOMAN POSING FOR PHOTO WITH WORLD CUP 2018 MASCOT, WOLF 'ZABIVAKA' VARIOUS OF COUNTDOWN CLOCK FOR WORLD CUP 2018 KREMLIN TOWER VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING ON RED SQUARE KREMLIN TOWER PEOPLE SITTING OUTSIDE SPORTS PUB SIGN IN WINDOW WITH PUB'S NAME (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) LEADER OF RUSSIAN SOCCER FAN UNION, ALEXANDER SHPRYGIN, SAYING: "We have a Soccer World Cup in a year and I don't want to have the same situation then. It is unclear why this happens. First they approve everything (fan's ID), hand it over to you and then cancel it two hours before (of the match). People, including myself, loose money. If they decide to reject someone's application why don't they do it right away when people apply (for fan's ID) so the people don't buy tickets. " PEOPLE SITTING OUTSIDE PUB PUB EMBLEM (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) LEADER OF RUSSIAN SOCCER FAN UNION, ALEXANDER SHPRYGIN, SAYING: "I think that simply because the Confederations Cup and the World Cup which is taking place in a year, both are events of state importance, they (the authorities) are being extra cautious and it is easier for them to ban any person who in their opinion can be unreliable, and then everything will go smoothly." PEOPLE SITTING AT TABLE OUTSIDE PUB PEOPLE ON MANEZHNAYA SQUARE NEAR KREMLIN POLICE PEOPLE AT CONFEDERATIONS CUP INFORMATION STAND VOLUNTEERS TALKING TO TOURISTS (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOURIST FROM GERMANY, YORK, SAYING: "Here it is no problem, but last year it was a big problem (at the) European Championship. And I think there is no problem here because it is another situation with the police and so on. So I do not estimate (to have) problems with Russian hooligans here." (SOUNDBITE) (English) SOCCER FAN FROM GERMANYS, BERNDT ECKHARD, SAYING: "I do not hope (there will be) any fights. I think it will be safe here. In France they could do whatever they wanted. I think that is not possible here because of the police, and they (the police) are always there, only looking. But I think hooligans start fighting they will be there and nothing will happen." (SOUNDBITE) (English) TOURIST FROM CHILE, DANIEL, SAYING: "Well, police is everywhere, but beyond that I believe that the Russian people have learned to live in a very polite manner and this is something we will share with our own people when we go back home." VARIOUS OF POLICE VANS
  • Embargoed: 5th July 2017 11:52
  • Keywords: Russian fans football fans Confederations Cup Alexander Shprygin
  • Location: MOSCOW, RUSSIA
  • City: MOSCOW, RUSSIA
  • Country: Russia
  • Topics: Soccer,Sport
  • Reuters ID: LVA0016M80YTB
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Dozens of Russian soccer fans have been barred from attending 2017 Confederations Cup matches after their fan-IDs - needed for matches - were cancelled, leader of Russian soccer fan union Alexander Shprygin, told Reuters.
    Shprygin, deported from France last year during the European Championship, said he had been notified by Confederations Cup organisers that his fan-ID was cancelled but wasn't told why.
    He was among a group of Russian fans expelled from France after violence flared before and during Russia's Euro 2016 match against England in Marseille. He managed to re-enter France later in the tournament, only to be expelled again.
    The Russian Football Union severed its ties with Shprygin's organisation following the incident.
    After clashes between Russian and England fans tarnished the European championship, President Vladimir Putin approved legislation which allows authorities to hand out tougher punishments for violence at sporting events.
    Russian authorities said the Confederations Cup's ticketing system, which requires ticket holders to apply for a personalised fan-ID, ensures fans are screened and trouble makers are kept away.
    Russia's interior ministry has blacklisted 292 fans, including 54 spectators who last month invaded the pitch at the Russia Cup final in Sochi, effectively banning them from attending official sporting events.
    Shprygin's name does not appear on the interior ministry's list, according to a check Reuters carried out on June 17.
    Increased police presence was evident on the streets of four Confederations Cup host cities - Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan and Sochi - with overseas fans saying they felt safe in Russia.
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