Russian police arrest 121 fans after football riot
Russian police have arrested 121 football fans in the wake of some of the worst sports violence in years, law enforcement officials said Monday.
The supporters of the domestic league top-flight side Spartak Moscow were detained after a stadium riot in the eastern city of Samara, police spokesman Yury Sterlikov said.
Some 300 Spartak fans broke through a police cordon around their seating during a Sunday afternoon match against Krylia Sovetov Samara to touch off a brawl involving hundreds of participants.
Spartak supporters wielded torn plastic seating in the rioting, which police only broke up with the assistance of tear gas and water cannon.
More than 20 people were injured in the battle which also damaged more than 2,000 seats in Kryla Sovetov's 33,000 seat stadium. Spartak won the match 1-0.
Most of the detainees will face charges of public intoxication or resisting arrest, Sterlikov said.
Football hooliganism is a widespread problem in Russia, which is scheduled to host the 2018 World Cup. The most aggressive fans are found in Moscow and St Petersburg. Some fan clubs have been linked with right-wing extremist groups
