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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Moscow braced for football riots | Moscow braced for football riots |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| By Rupert Wingfield-Hayes BBC News, Moscow | By Rupert Wingfield-Hayes BBC News, Moscow |
| Russian supporters were well behaved for the London matchEngland are taking on Russia in a crucial football match that could decide which country will qualify for the Euro 2008 tournament next year. | Russian supporters were well behaved for the London matchEngland are taking on Russia in a crucial football match that could decide which country will qualify for the Euro 2008 tournament next year. |
| England are the favourites, but Russia have an impressive record of winning at home. | England are the favourites, but Russia have an impressive record of winning at home. |
| With thousands of England fans travelling to Moscow for the match, the authorities are putting on a huge security operation to try and make sure there isn't any football violence. | With thousands of England fans travelling to Moscow for the match, the authorities are putting on a huge security operation to try and make sure there isn't any football violence. |
| But it is not the English fans they are most worried about, it is Russian football hooligans who today are the most feared in Europe. | But it is not the English fans they are most worried about, it is Russian football hooligans who today are the most feared in Europe. |
| In the bitter cold of an early Moscow winter evening a handful of hardcore English football fans are cheering on their team. | In the bitter cold of an early Moscow winter evening a handful of hardcore English football fans are cheering on their team. |
| "Come on England" they shout "Come on England". | "Come on England" they shout "Come on England". |
| Out on the field their team is not doing terribly well. | Out on the field their team is not doing terribly well. |
| They have already conceded two goals to the younger and more athletic Russian side. | They have already conceded two goals to the younger and more athletic Russian side. |
| Fortunately for the fans this is not the real England - Russia match. | Fortunately for the fans this is not the real England - Russia match. |
| It is a friendly between English and Russian football fans. | It is a friendly between English and Russian football fans. |
| The atmosphere is jovial. The match has been organised by the British Council to bring fans together. | The atmosphere is jovial. The match has been organised by the British Council to bring fans together. |
| But when it comes the real match on Wednesday night things are likely to be considerably tenser. | But when it comes the real match on Wednesday night things are likely to be considerably tenser. |
| Violent gangs | Violent gangs |
| The Russian authorities are taking no chances. They are putting 6,000 riot police on the streets of Moscow. | The Russian authorities are taking no chances. They are putting 6,000 riot police on the streets of Moscow. |
| In 2002 hooligans rioted in Moscow following defeat in the World Cup | In 2002 hooligans rioted in Moscow following defeat in the World Cup |
| Their big fear is not English hooligans. These days it is the home grown variety they are really worried about. | Their big fear is not English hooligans. These days it is the home grown variety they are really worried about. |
| If you want to get an idea of what Russian hooligans are like just go to YouTube and type in: "Russian football hooligans". | If you want to get an idea of what Russian hooligans are like just go to YouTube and type in: "Russian football hooligans". |
| It will bring up dozens of home shot videos of violent clashes between gangs of young men, and sometimes even women. | It will bring up dozens of home shot videos of violent clashes between gangs of young men, and sometimes even women. |
| One of the most popular shows a battle between gangs outside St Petersburg in 2005. | One of the most popular shows a battle between gangs outside St Petersburg in 2005. |
| Two groups of roughly 100 men run at each other fists and feet flailing. | Two groups of roughly 100 men run at each other fists and feet flailing. |
| In the ensuing maelstrom some are knocked unconscious, others stagger away blood pouring from cut faces and heads. | In the ensuing maelstrom some are knocked unconscious, others stagger away blood pouring from cut faces and heads. |
| The fight is highly organised and extremely violent. | The fight is highly organised and extremely violent. |
| Clashes like this one happen almost every weekend somewhere in Russia. | Clashes like this one happen almost every weekend somewhere in Russia. |
| English model | English model |
| But ironically the inspiration for it comes from England. | But ironically the inspiration for it comes from England. |
| The only real English hooligans are banned - they sit at home drinking beer and watching on TV IvanFormer hooligan | The only real English hooligans are banned - they sit at home drinking beer and watching on TV IvanFormer hooligan |
| In a shop on one of Moscow's most expensive shopping streets I have come to meet Ivan. | In a shop on one of Moscow's most expensive shopping streets I have come to meet Ivan. |
| Ivan used to be a Russian football hooligan. Now he sells British football fashions to Russian football fans. | Ivan used to be a Russian football hooligan. Now he sells British football fashions to Russian football fans. |
| He shows me names like "Stone Island" and "Lambretta". | He shows me names like "Stone Island" and "Lambretta". |
| "These fashions are popular in Russia because the terrace culture comes from England," Ivan tells me. | "These fashions are popular in Russia because the terrace culture comes from England," Ivan tells me. |
| Ivan and his fellow Russian hooligans see themselves as the inheritors of Britain's infamous football gangs of the 1980s. | Ivan and his fellow Russian hooligans see themselves as the inheritors of Britain's infamous football gangs of the 1980s. |
| Ivan does not see it as shameful. He claims it is a genuine subculture, and laments what has happened to the English gangs. | Ivan does not see it as shameful. He claims it is a genuine subculture, and laments what has happened to the English gangs. |
| "Nowadays English hooligans do not have any good mobs or firms," he says a grin spreading over his broad face. | "Nowadays English hooligans do not have any good mobs or firms," he says a grin spreading over his broad face. |
| "The only real English hooligans are banned. They sit at home drinking beer and watching on TV. But they're no longer in the stadium. It's unfortunate," Ivan says. | "The only real English hooligans are banned. They sit at home drinking beer and watching on TV. But they're no longer in the stadium. It's unfortunate," Ivan says. |
| 'Strongest hooligans' | 'Strongest hooligans' |
| Every major Russian football club has its own Firms or organised group of hooligans. | Every major Russian football club has its own Firms or organised group of hooligans. |
| Against our toughest guys the English don't stand a chance VasilySpartak Moscow supporter | Against our toughest guys the English don't stand a chance VasilySpartak Moscow supporter |
| Ivan has promised to take me to meet the leader of one Moscow's most feared Firms. | Ivan has promised to take me to meet the leader of one Moscow's most feared Firms. |
| I am led down a stairway in to a dark basement pub on the Moscow ring road. | |
| Sitting at a table wearing a ski mask is Vasily. His nickname he tells me is "the killer" and he is the leader of the Spartak Moscow Gladiators. | Sitting at a table wearing a ski mask is Vasily. His nickname he tells me is "the killer" and he is the leader of the Spartak Moscow Gladiators. |
| "Russians are the strongest hooligans in Europe. Vasily says, staring straight in to my eyes with a cold gaze. | "Russians are the strongest hooligans in Europe. Vasily says, staring straight in to my eyes with a cold gaze. |
| "Against our toughest guys the English don't stand a chance. They're out of practice, they don't know anything about tactics of street fighting. They'll be crushed." | "Against our toughest guys the English don't stand a chance. They're out of practice, they don't know anything about tactics of street fighting. They'll be crushed." |
| Five years ago when Russia lost to Japan in the World Cup angry football fans tore apart the centre of Moscow. | Five years ago when Russia lost to Japan in the World Cup angry football fans tore apart the centre of Moscow. |
| Cars burned, shop windows were smashed. Two people were killed. | Cars burned, shop windows were smashed. Two people were killed. |
| It was the worst football violence ever seen in Russia. The Moscow authorities are determined to make sure there will be no repeat if Russia loses on Wednesday. | It was the worst football violence ever seen in Russia. The Moscow authorities are determined to make sure there will be no repeat if Russia loses on Wednesday. |