CSKA Moscow vs Arsenal: Arsene Wenger reckons football can help deteriorating relations between England and Russia
ARSENE WENGER reckons football can help the deteriorating relations between England and Russia.
Arsenal take on CSKA Moscow in the second leg of the Europa quarter-finals, the first clash between the two nations since the spy poisoning row.
Both clubs are confident there will not be any trouble between travelling fans and Russian ultras.
Wenger said: “Sport can always play a positive role in life and between countries. That is why football is a good opportunity to facilitate relations.
“I am convinced that this game will be absolutely normal and the World Cup will be perfectly well organised. I have no problem about that. But maybe sport will have a more active role during this period than ever.”
Both Liverpool and Manchester United supporters had a trouble-free trip to Moscow in September but there has been concerns over Russians hooligans, particularly after their behaviour in Marseille at Euro 2016.
Arsenal will have about 500 fans here but Wenger believes both supporters and the players will be safe.
He said: “On that front, there will be no problem. We have been well welcomed here. We had no problems to come here.
“We had many Russian fans in London. There was no problem. Why should it be different here?”
Meanwhile, Fifa president Gianni Infantino also told England fans: “Russia will be very safe” this summer.
With the World Cup just 63 days away, concerns over fan violence between fanatical “ultras” are increasing — and some Three Lions supporters are considering not travelling for the global showpiece.
But Infantino has urged them to make the trip in June, and has promised the protection and security will be beyond anything seen at a major tournament.
He said: “Of course it is safe to go to Russia – it will be very safe. It will be even safer going to Russia during the World Cup because the authorities in Russia are very aware of what it means and they want to show a welcoming country.
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“Their preparations in terms of security for a World Cup are beyond any other event to any other situation so the conditions will be there for a very safe tournament.
“Those who want to go and enjoy football and enjoy a party they should go to Russia. Those who want to go to have riots, they better not go. Go somewhere else.
“We have to focus on football. I think there are enough people, sadly, around the world who try to divide or argue or dispute or whatever. We have to try to unite. Football is uniting.”