England fans have nothing to fear at Russia World Cup despite hooligan worries, insists ex-Kremlin advisor
Alexander Nekrassov was speaking on the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast Show where he claimed accusations must stop
FORMER Kremlin and Russian government advisor Alexander Nekrassov has insisted English fans have nothing to worry about at the World Cup in the summer.
There have been constant fears that Russian hooligans will target English supporters after the two nations came to blows at Euro 2016.
But Nekrassov has shut down any fears travelling fans may have when he was a guest on the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast Show.
He said: "I think the Russians are very hospitable people. I am really surprised that the Russian fans suddenly have this reputation of being violent thugs.
"I know them, I've been there many times, and I haven't witnessed anything like that. For example, they're accused of racism, right?
"I have not witnessed that. OK there are idiots, always, come on, you must have seen them here."
When asked by David Ginola about the violence between England and Russia before and after the 1-1 draw in Marseille, Nekrassov said: "I remember that, but it was not a one-sided sort of thing.
"There were two sides to the problem, there were idiots on both sides.
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"So I think the Russian people are friendly people by nature, and this racism, this has to stop this accusation. They are into football a lot, they are fans, they are proper fans.
"They want to see beautiful game, they want to see the best players in the world and by the way, just like in 1966, the English fans were supporting the Russian team, I've been there, I've seen that.
"I was here in the 60's and 70's and there was a serious problem with hooliganism and football, but still in Russia, people said 'yeah but that's the country that gave us football'.
"So I understand these are hooligans, hoodlums, who don't care about about football. They go there to beat each other up and just feel strong.
"So they understood it, and I hope that English fans understand as well that the majority of Russian fans are genuine lovers of football."
It has been reported that Russian ultras flew 8,000 miles to Buenos Aries to hold secret meetings with Argentinian thugs about how to attack English supporters.