Footage shows a clash in the street between rival groups of supporters in the city of Krasnodar — which was lined up as one of the host cities for the tournament
A SHOCKING brawl between Russian football hooligans has sparked fresh fears for the safety of British fans at next year’s football World Cup.
Footage shows a clash in the street between rival groups of supporters in the city of Krasnodar — which was lined up as one of the host cities for the tournament.
The violence reportedly broke out ahead of the game between FC Krasnodar and FC Anzhi Makhachkala.
Onlookers used mobiles phones to video the fight as the two groups gathering on a road and then slowly start walking together.
A cameraman's voice can be heard saying: "Are they going to fight?"
One of the groups of thugs can be heard chanting: "We are all for one!"
Hooligans can be seen punching and kicking each other. One man falls and covers his head as kicks fly all round him.
After a couple of minutes of fighting Anzhi supporters leave the scene, chanting: "You will suck! You will suck!"
The other group can be heard chanting: "Krasnodar! Krasnodar!"
Police reported that they have managed to arrest initiators of the fight from both sides.
Later representatives of FC Krasnodar said that they would blacklist six arrested people.
An official statement of the team said: "From our side we will put them on the black list, and these men will not be able to attend home matches of our club."
But one supporter said online: "Such fans are essential for clubs as they bring the action.
"No action then nobody will be interested in the show, which will lead to financial losses of the club, as fewer tickets will be sold."
Krasnodar was on the original list of 16 venues for the 2018 World Cup, although it was dropped after Fifa asked the hosts to cut the number of stadiums to 14.
Fears for visiting fans were raised after Russian Ultra hooligans left two English supporters in a coma after brutal clashes in Marseilles at Euro 2016.
A recent TV documentary called Russia’s Hooligan Army showed interviews with Russian thugs who promised "100 percent guaranteed violence" to British fans at the World Cup, which kicks off in just over a year.
In November footage showed Ultras grooming young kids to unleash a bloodbath on English fans.
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