Support The Moscow Times!

World Cup to Bring 20,000 Russian Football Fans to Brazil

20,000 football fans are expected to travel from Russia to Brazil. Elena Pleskevich / Flickr

About 20,000 Russian football fans are expected to travel to Brazil for the upcoming World Cup tournament, the head of the Russian consulate in Rio de Janeiro has said.

Of this number, about 500 people have been labeled as "violent fans, who may require special attention from consular services and law enforcement agencies," consulate head Andrei Budayev said, Itar-Tass reported Monday.

Budayev also called on Russian fans to employ "common sense" during the tournament to avoid getting into any unwanted trouble.

"Avoid risky behavior, comply with the laws, rules and customs of the host country in order to avoid any misunderstandings and conflicts," Burdayev was quoted as saying by Itar-Tass.

He added that an an extra six diplomats would be flying out to the Brazilian capital during the course of the tournament in order to "strengthen the consulates' ability to protect the rights and interests of Russian citizens."

The World Cup, which takes place every four years, kicks off in Sao Paulo this Friday when home nation Brazil take on Croatia at the Arena Corinthians.

Russia play South Korea in their first game next Tuesday, before facing Algeria and Belgium, with the top two teams in the group progressing through to the next round.

See also:

Capello Names Russia Squad for Football World Cup

… we have a small favor to ask.

As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just 2. It's quick to set up, and you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Continue

Read more