WORLD CUP 2018
Argentina to prevent 3,000 "barras-bravas" from travelling to Russia
The Argentine government is to sign an accord with Russia aimed at preventing the country's more than 3,000 hooligans who are expected to travel to this year's World Cup from attending matches.
The Buenos Aires government is to sign a deal with Moscow aimed at preventing more than 3,000 hooligans who are expected to travel to this year's World Cup from attending matches.
The deal, which will be formally signed in the coming days, includes the names of fans banned from Argentine soccer grounds and other known members of the notorious barras bravas, the organised fan groups who have wreaked havoc at local stadiums.
"A list of 400 names of Argentines who will not be able to enter stadiums was handed over and it is estimated that the definitive database we send will have around 3000 names," said Guillermo Madero, the national director of security at Argentine football matches.
The information will be shared with airlines and Russian immigration authorities and Argentine officials say the Fan ID, which supporters get when they buy tickets to the games, will act as another barrier.
Argentina will also send six law enforcement officials to Russia to help coordinate with local police and officials from the other 30 competing nations.
Barras-bravas
The "barras bravas" are fixtures at most top Argentine clubs and have been responsible for much of the violence that has sullied the domestic game in recent years.
In addition to launching violent attacks on other fans, and sometimes even players, they control the sale of some tickets and are often involved in other illegal activities outside football.
Argentine media have reported that barras from Boca Juniors met with their counterparts from Russian clubs Dynamo Moscow and Zenit St Petersburg in February and officials are taking as many preventive measures as possible.
"We believe that the barras will go to Russia whatever but they are not going to get into the grounds," said Juan Manuel Lugones, the executive secretary of the agency set up to prevent violence at sports events in Buenos Aires.
Some 44,882 Argentines have bought tickets for the tournament, according to the latest FIFA figures.
The South Americans kick off their Group D campaign on June 16 in Moscow against Iceland, before facing Croatia in Nizhni Novgorod and Nigeria in St Petersburg