Russian yob who revels in the name ‘Star of Marseilles’ after being jailed for attacks on Three Lions fans boasts he will be at World Cup after authorities deem he’s no threat
A RUSSIAN footie thug jailed over brutal attacks on England supporters at Euro 2016 is NOT on a blacklist of hooligans banned by Putin from attending World Cup games.
Sergei Gorbachev spent seven months in a Marseilles jail over the bloody clashes at the tournament two years ago, which left two Three Lions fans fighting for their lives.
But when the Russian interior ministry unveiled its hooligans "blacklist" at the weekend, the 35-year-old was not on it and he now boasts he is planning to buy tickets for the tournament.
The news comes after a known thug was reportedly granted World Cup fan ID by the Moscow authorities, and after it was revealed several other blacklisted fans had skirted the ban to buy tickets.
Gorbachev - known as the Star of Marseilles in his home town of Tula, south of Moscow - finished his sentence in December 2016, but remained in jail to wait for the release of his friend Alexei Yerunov a month later.
In June of 2016, the two men and another Russian Nikolai Morozov were convicted in France for participating in the shocking riots before the match between Russia and England.
A group of 150 "highly trained" Russian Ultras wearing gum shields, martial arts fighting gloves and carrying telescopic batons, coshes and knives sparked trouble in the French port.
England fans Andrew Bache and Stewart Gray were left comatose amid the horrific scenes after Three Lions supporters were “ambushed” by the highly-organised Russian ultras.
Now Putin's authorities, hoping to erase memories of the Marseilles brawls, have pledged to curb violence at the World Cup, to be held between June 14 and July 15 in eleven Russian cities.
Gorbachev, who heads the supporters’ association of Arsenal Tula, a Russian Premier League club, said police have been regularly dropping in on fans "known to the authorities."
The 35-year-old - who insists he was just defending himself in Marseilles - said he had also taken part in meetings with police in which fans were told not to engage in stadium violence.
“The guys who are now in the fan world, they are feeling the effects of what the authorities are doing to ensure the World Cup is held without any trouble, including from the Russian fans,” he said.
Speaking to Reuters, he said English fans travelling to Russia for the World Cup have nothing to fear - as long as they behave themselves.
“If they behave in a civilised way, I will shake their hand,” added Gorbachev. “I would want the same from them. I wouldn’t want to see same attitude and behaviour I encountered in Marseilles.”
In the run-up to the World Cup, Russia has increased fines for violent stadium behavior. In some cases, fans are even asked to make a written pledge that they will not organise or participate in fights.
A senior interior ministry official has revealed there will be “a policeman every 20 meters” in host cities to prevent petty crime and drunken fights.
Officers have been told to pay special attention to English fans, who they fear could spark “mass fights, riots and provocations,” the official said.
Moscow and London have been exchanging information to prevent further clashes, with Russian authorities visiting England to watch football policing in action and British officials travelling the other way to discuss tactics.
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When asked if Russian fans could take matters into their own hands if they encountered violent behaviour from other groups, he shrugged.
“I think our law enforcement will do their jobs,” he said. “It’s not just for me to serve a sentence in France under their laws. English (who misbehave) should serve time here under ours.”
Gorbachev has yet to apply for a World Cup fan ID, a document needed to attend matches which proves that a ticket holder has been vetted by Russian authorities but he plans to do so in the coming days.
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