The Russian Interior Ministry has blacklisted 191 local football fans from attending sports events, including matches of the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia this month, a senior official with the ministry said on Tuesday.
"We do have an open list of those, who had been banned from attending official football events by the court's decision," Tass news agency quoted First Deputy Head of the Interior Ministry's Department for Security Provision at Large International and Mass Sports Events, Anton Gusev as saying at a press conference said.
"This list is open to the public and as of today it contains 191 people," the official added.
Gusev also said that all football fans, who previously violated laws, were under a constant control of the Russian Interior Ministry.
"They would be never allowed to attend competitions," he said. "Moreover, those who had been committing harsh violations during sports events are now under our constant control. This goes as well to foreign football hooligans."
According to Gusev, the Russian law enforcement bodies are in close contact with foreign colleagues regarding possible threats posed by international football fans.
"They (foreign police forces) will be escorting their football teams and national fans," Gusev said. "We will have no problems whatsoever obtaining on-line information (from foreign colleagues) regarding hooligans and other persons planning unlawful actions during the tournament."
Security and fans behavior before, during and after football matches is in particular focus of the Russian football authorities as the country is currently undergoing full swing preparations for hosting the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup and the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Gusev's statement regarded to fans behaviour during the 2016 European Championship in France last summer.
Numerous clashes were reported between football fans at the major European football tournament held in France between June 10 and July 10, 2016.
The most notorious altercations erupted between Russian and English fans ahead of the June 11 match. Brawls began on June 9 in Marseille, peaking on the day of the match -- June 12.
--IANS
pur/dg
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
