Russian hooligan is arrested after sneaking back into France to watch game two days after being deported for violence
Official who works for hooligan supporter Igor Lebedev is believed to have sneaked into France through Spain
A RUSSIAN hooligan deported from France just two days ago has been arrested for trying to watch the Wales match in Lille.
Ultra leader Alexander Shprygin was arrested in Toulouse after trying to sneak back to France to watch Russia play Wales.
He had been involved in the violence against England fans last week and was one of 43 Russians held by police.
The thug was put on a plane back to Moscow just two days ago, but has already found his way back to France.
Shprygin told of how he re-entered the country on Twitter.
He said that he snuck into France “by an unusual route under cover of night”.
Pictures he posted to his social media account appeared to show Barcelona airport.
It is thought that he travelled by land to get from Spain to France.
An incredulous Twitter user said that it was “unbelievable” that the Russian had managed to find his way back to the country.
But Shprygin was in for a disappointing day as Russia was trounced by Wales, who won 3-0.
French Interior Ministry spokesman Pierre-Henri Brandet said that Shprygin was arrested in Toulouse three days after being deported for being involved in hooliganism.
He said: “Detained tonight in the Toulouse stadium, Alexander Shprygin was placed in custody and his situation will be dealt with either administratively or with a judicial procedure.”
The hooligan was forbidden to enter France.
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If he had arrived at a French airport, authorities would have had the power to send him straight back to Russia.
Last week, 20 Russians were deported by French authorities for being involved in hooliganism.
Shprygin, who has posted far right pictures online before, sits on a committee overseeing Russia’s preparation for the 2018 World Cup.
But the official says that neither him or the Russian government is racist.
It is thought that he was with Russian consuls.
He talked to AFP over the phone, shortly before he was arrested in Toulouse.
Shprygin said: “I am at the match with a ticket.
“The French authorities told me I was not deported but just expelled, my Schengen visa has not been cancelled and all the stamps are there. So I can legally be in the European Union.”
Shprygin has posted pictures of him at Euro 2016 stadiums in Marseille.
The hooligan is the leader of the official Russian supporters group and works for politician Igor Lebedev, who publically supported hooligan activity at the Euros.
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