Reuters interview with convicted Russian soccer fan: We’ve been warned against World Cup violence

A Russian soccer fan leader jailed over clashes with England supporters at the 2016 European Championship said he and other fans had been warned by police against engaging in violence at the upcoming World Cup in Russia. Sergei Gorbachev spent seven months in a Marseille jail over the clashes before Russia’s match against England at the tournament two years ago in France, where punches were thrown, bottles flung and smoke bombs detonated. Speaking to Reuters, he said English fans traveling to Russia for the World Cup have nothing to fear – if they behaved themselves. “If they behave in a civilized way, I will shake their hand,” added Gorbachev. “I would want the same from them. I wouldn’t want to see same attitude and behavior I encountered in Marseille.”