Does Russian football have a domestic hooligan problem, and what measures are being taken ahead of World Cup 2018? All you need to know
All the information you need regarding football hooliganism in Russia and why they caused havoc at Euro 2016
Sponsored by
EURO 2016 conjured up a number of fairy-tale stories as underdogs Portugal went on to lift the trophy.
Wales defied the odds to reach the semi-finals whilst minnows Iceland knocked out England in the shock of the tournament.
But the action on the pitch was arguably overshadowed by the extreme violence created by Russian supporters throughout the tournament.
Football fans in Russia wouldn't be surprised to see organised hooligans run riot on the streets of France but just how rife is fan violence in Russian football?
Here's all the information you need to know.
Does Russia have a domestic hooligan problem?
Russia's football federation has done little to prevent violence in the countries' top league although fighting has died down over the years.
Fighting in the stadiums is rarely seen but gang organisers are still arranging secret scraps in underground places and in the woods.
Hooliganism in Russia started around 1972 before moving to the terraces of stadiums. Now gangs, particularly between fierce rivals CSKA and Spartak Moscow are having to pick their battles more carefully.
Zenit St Petersburg are also renowned for having an organised section of football thugs.
Spartak followers, along with hooligans from other Russian clubs, have attacked police and thrown flares and smoke bombs onto the pitch before the matches.
What happened in Marseille in Euro 2016?
Known as the 'Ultras', Russia's gang of football thugs caused havoc on the streets of Marseille during Euro 2016 .
But they weren't spontaneous attacks, the well trained fighters had been plotting their trouble for months ahead of the tournament and specifically targeted English supporters.
It was reported that 150 Russian thugs took to the streets after their 1-1 draw with England.
Reported by the Telegraph, a fan called Vladimir admitted Russia went for the English because "the English always say they are the main football hooligans. We went to show that the English are girls."
35 people were injured, two seriously, in what was the worst football violence at an international tournament since the 1998 World Cup in France.
What did Russian authorities say about the fighting?
Russian officials amazingly played down the violence that swept Marseille last summer.
Igor Lebedov, who sits on the executive committee of the Russian football union, said on Twitter: "I don't see anything wrong with the fans fighting.
“Quite the opposite, well done lads, keep it up!”
“I don’t understand those politicians and officials who are criticising our fans. We should defend them and then we can sort it out when they come home.”
Maxim Motin, a member of the Moscow city parliament told a Russian TV channel that there was "nothing criminal or unacceptable" about the behaviour of their supporters and instead blamed the lack of security.
What measures are being taken to tackle hooliganism at Russia 2018?
More violence is to be expected when Russia host the 2018 World Cup next year.
Russia are passing new laws on fan violence and attempting to outlaw a number of hooligan groups but it remains unclear over how successful they will be.
Police have enacted new laws promising bans and jail for any fans caught up in the violence and will heavily police the stadiums.
