A Russian lawmaker has proposed an unorthodox solution to the country's problems with football hooliganism ahead of next year's World Cup — legalise it and make it a spectator sport.
Organised groups of Russian fans, many with martial arts training, fought English fans on the streets of Marseille during last year's European Championship.
That inspired Igor Lebedev, who sits in the Russian parliament, to draw up rules for what he calls "draka," the Russian word for "fight" — 20 fighters on each side, unarmed, in an arena.
In a statement on the website of the nationalist LDPR party, Lebedev said organized brawls "could turn fans' aggression in a peaceful direction." He also claimed it would serve as an "example" for English fans, who he characterised as undisciplined louts and poor fighters.
"Russia would be a pioneer in a new sport," said Lebedev, who also suggested fights between different fan groups could draw crowds of thousands. "English fans arrive, for example, and start picking fights. And they get the answer — challenge accepted. A meeting in a stadium at a set time."
Some fan groups in Russia already hold illicit fights along similar lines, typically pre-arranged mass brawls in rural locations, away from police.
>"""trained""" fighters got their asses kicked by drunken nigels and their pub lads
Ian Parker
The human race is an incredible thing.
Charles Wilson
>Igor Lebedev He is a clown and political prostitute, just like his daddy Zhirinovksy, Putins court jester
Jordan Campbell
link? I mostly have just seen drunk middle aged brits getting beat up by giant slavs
Ayden Davis
and for good reason it's fucking pathetic that the bongs defend that shit and say they were attacked so they were justified in tearing Marseille apart before they got beat the fuck down that's some fucking scouser tier shit
Josiah Baker
Wtf I love soccer now
Jace Smith
Euro 2016 was such a brilliant time, so sadly marred by the stains of terrorism. 2016 in general, man..
Carter Green
Need a Russia vs. USA opening match tbqh.
Angel Lee
Netherlands will make it
Chase Jenkins
make sure to qualify first
Grayson Wright
Its going to be a fun one, I just know it
Leo Garcia
...
Leo Cox
Its ours
Jaxson Thomas
le jour de gloire est arrive?
Gabriel Jackson
Gaymans are not a threat anymore. I hope shwayny will give US an hand again.
Xavier Martin
no friend it is ours
Leo Fisher
You can use your lucky card just once puto.
Zachary Jones
@migo your attack totally choked against our bashful, yet valiant barbosian cock
Luis Hernandez
shwayny has retired from the NT, n'golo
you're on your own
Blake Martinez
Are lads are gonna want revenge for what happened in 2016. It will be bigger brawl than the anti Trump Riots.
Xavier Brown
We would get our asses kicked. There are literally zero tough guy burgers that watch soccer.
