Russia aims laws at fan problem before 2018 WCup
2018 World Cup leadership hoping new laws help clamp down on hooligan problem in Russia
AS Roma supporters light flares and cheer during a Serie A soccer match between AS Roma and Lazio at Rome's Olympic stadium, Sunday, April 8, 2013. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)
MANCHESTER, England (AP) -- Russia's World Cup leadership is hoping new laws will help prevent disorderly fans from marring the tournament in 2018.
A bill is going through the Russian parliament that would fine and suspend violent fans from matches for one to six months. The bill also carries a jail term and a one-year suspension for behavior that disrupts matches.
World Cup director Alexander Djordjadze acknowledges that hooliganism is a "big concern for the entire football family in Russia."
Addressing the SoccerEx conference in Manchester, Djordjadze says he hopes the new laws will "change the fan culture completely."
