IN RUSSIA WITH LOVE

Manchester United to cover cost of fans’ £120 Russian visas for Europa League clash with Rostov

Fans face 4,250-mile round trip for away leg in Russia

ALEC SHILTON

Published: 20:19, 28 Feb 2017

United fans will have the £120 visas reimbursed by their club

MANCHESTER UNITED have made a grand gesture to their fans by promising to stump up almost £120 a fan for Russian visas.

Supporters will have to dip further into their pockets if they want to be at the away leg of United's Europa League last-16 tie against Rostov.

The 4,266-mile round trip comes just four days before Jose Mourinho's side face Chelsea in the FA Cup.

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But fans will feel an afternoon in West London is a cheap day out compared to the cost of flights, accommodation AND £118.20 visas to get into Russia.

United have eased the burden, according to , by promising to reimburse the cost to 500 or so fans planning on travelling to the game - costing the club around £60,000 in total.

However, there are fears that the cost of the journey may be the least of travelling fans' problems.

Just last week a BBC documentary called 'Russia's Hooligan Army' showed Rostov's hooligans treating football violence as a way of life.

The show met a thug from Rostov on the banks of the river Don against the backdrop of the new 45,000-seater Rostov Arena, which will host World Cup games in 2018.

With the new Rostov Arena in the background, the fan said the English are picked on as they are the 'forefathers of hooliganism'

The balaclava-clad fan admitted they target English fans: “Everyone from the fans movement is looking forward to the World Cup taking place in Russia.

"Our opponents are naturally the English because they are the forefathers of hooliganism and naturally they are always awaited.

Rostov fans decked out in club colours explain the fearsome Russian style of hooligan fighting

"If you are there you should calculate getting your arse kicked.

“There is no need to travel to have fun. There is a stretch of forest next to the stadium. It’s adjacent to the stadium so people can hide in the forest, go for a swim and arrange ambushes.