Russian fans clash with baton-wielding police at stadium

Posted July 21, 2019 7:00 am

The Associated Press

MOSCOW (AP) - Russian soccer fans have criticized what they consider heavy-handed policing after clashes at a league game.

Video footage posted online shows police in riot gear beating Spartak Moscow fans on the stadium concourse after a game Saturday with FC Rostov, including two who have fallen to the ground. Fans have alleged they were kept tightly packed in the corridor after the game and then attacked by police with batons.

The Russian Football Union has told the Sport-Express newspaper that it is calling for an investigation and that "this kind of situation should not be repeated at stadiums."

The Russian Premier League says in a statement that it is satisfied police acted correctly and accused Spartak fans of trying to free fellow supporters arrested earlier over allegations of throwing pyrotechnics.

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