Russian hooligans strike again as CSKA Moscow’s clash with Zenit St Petersburg is marred by violence

RUSSIAN hooligans struck again as during CSKA Moscow’s clash with Zenit St Petersburg.

The World Cup hosts are trying to allay fears next year’s tournament it as risk from roaming gangs of thugs.

But the issue flared up again in the Russian Premier League match with sets of fans clashing with each other and police.

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Title rivals CSKA and Zenit drew 0-0 but the meeting was marred by ugly scenes in the stands.

A group of visiting Zenit supporters managed to break through the metal face dividing them from the home faithful.

Stewards were powerless to prevent the violence as blows rained down between the warring fans.

A CSKA scarf was set alight with a number of smoke bombs and flares burled over the fence before order was eventually restored.

Russia has a serious issue with football violence with many insisting the country is not suitable to host the 2018 World Cup.

Fifa President Gianni Infantino, however, is adamant that he is not concerned by the issue.

Highly-trained gangs were involved with pitched battles against England supporters in Marseille at last year’s Euros.

And a BBC documentary showed shocking scenes of mobs ‘training’ for the tournament where they are aiming for a “festival of violence.”

Tournament chiefs will issue ID cards for those attending matches in an attempt to curb the violence.

Meanwhile, a Russian politician has suggested turning hooliganism into a sport.

Igor Lebedev’s plans involve 20 fighters on each side in an organised brawl.

The Liberal Democratic Party politician is on the board of the Russian Football Union.

He wrote a statement outlining his views on his party’s website, it said: “Russia would be a pioneer in a new sport. Fans arrive, for example, and start picking fights. And they get the answer – challenge accepted. A meeting in a stadium at a set time.”