World cup Russia....

Interesting that no mention of any of the predicted violence in Russia towards visiting fans (particularly English) has been reported.

Is that because it was either over-hyped. the security has been beefed up and fans are all safe, or there is simply a news blackout on reporting any incidents to avoid giving thugs the publicity they seem to crave?

Anyone know anyone who is there and what the atmosphere has been like? Just curious and hopefully it has been a trouble free tournament.

 

I was thinking that too.
Is it that there simply has been no trouble, which would be great.
Or has there been trouble, but the press aren't allowed to report on it.
Or is it, like you say, over-hyped. The equivalent of saying, 'you don't want to go to watch football in England, them Millwall fans are lunatics'.

 

It looks like there hasn't been any, so thankfully it appears there is nothing to report. Every media outlet reporting from Russia are saying the tournament has been a major success so far.

I can't believe for one second that the British media would be gagged if there was trouble troubled involving our fans.

 

To be honest , I get the impression so far it has been trouble free & I feel sure that many England fans who have been out there are now back home , if there had been problems then these would have been highlighted on their return. If so, its great news & lets hope it continues through the rest of the tournament

 

Heard an interview with one of the state trained thugs who were in Marseilles. He said they’d done their work over there and now been ordered to welcome fans in Russia. Many other hooligans have had their identity cards impounded so that they can’t safely travel in their own country. Different world.

 

Merde Tete was over there.

 

I’d also suggest that Putin doesn’t want the bad press associated with it.

In Russia, what Putin wants, Putin gets. Hence no trouble so far.

 

I agree wholeheartedly with you. The Russian people also appear to be very open and friendly. The old part of Nizhny Novgorod looks a wonderful place to visit and it struck me that the country could have a fantastic tourist trade if only rhey would be more open to the west

 

I don't know if anyone saw them, but the two Frankie Boyle programmes about Russia were excellent & exposed a lot of insights into Russia that don't really get reported over here. The bad stuff we are all aware of, but financially a lot of people are doing well, so it isn't that hard to suppress opposition, even though it is going on.

 

I think it’s twofold. The Russians have kept their idiots away under threat of a stretch in a gulag. Our numpties have decided not to go as they might get beaten up.

 

Probably not far off there.

Putin controls the lot - what he says, goes.

 

Don't want to piss off Putin with the false image he's trying to portray. They will be back to being racist hooligans once their domestic season starts back up again.

 

That could change as/if we progress the minority idiots will hide amongst the main body of fans pptong police response to anyone who supports England as has been the norm at other football games over the years

 

Been here three weeks. Apart from a bit of handbags between Argentina fans in Nizhny after they were gubbed by Croatia, haven’t seen a single incident anywhere. People nothing but friendly and welcoming. Even the local bar we use treat us like regulars now.
The known hooligans were told to stay away by the authorities here. Putin doesn’t want his showpiece event making any negative headlines.

 

Stay safe guys and enjoy!

 

Yep, what he said, it’s been made very clear to be on their best behaviour.
The locals are also very friendly

 

Was, am, and still alive! It's been absolutely superb, without a hint of bother. I knew Moscow and St Petersburg would be fine but was slightly concerned about the provinces. I needn't have been Nizhny Novgorod was absolutely brilliant last weekend, and I'm very much looking forward to Samara too if we get there. The biggest problem seems to be with the free trains, which are very limited and all seem to go only from Moscow. Apart from that it's been brilliant.

 

Apparently ENGLISH fans fighting amongst each other, travelling through POLAND, my neighbour told me last wed and their POLISH

 

Think our main ones have travel restrictions

 

Even that McCarthy character managed to stay out of trouble?!