In a big sporting event like the world cup, where millions of people will gather in one place, hooliganism is almost inevitable. The credibility of Russia to successfully host the biggest sporting event in the world will be put to test and the issue of hooliganism and terrorism is not something to be taken lightly. Russia has taken numerous preventive measures in an attempt to counter the twin threats of hooliganism and terrorism at the world cup. Air defense system has been deployed and a strict fan background checks has also been put in place. Fans traveling to Russia are mandated to register with the police on their arrival in L any of the 12 host cities and even riverboat traffic is being curtailed to make it easier for the authorities to keep track of everything that moves. The domestic security service deputy chief Alexei Lavrishchev said that “After long years of preparations we have created a clear security plan and we are ready to avert any security threat.” At least 30,000 security personnel will fan out across Moscow by the time the hosts kick off against Saudi Arabia at the Luzhniki Stadium. Squadrons of fighter jets will be on standby near the capital and air defenses will be on the alert for any suspicious aircraft. Restrictions of access to controlled areas in and around world cup facilities, including hotels and base camps where the players participating in the tournament will live. There will also be some road closures in the host cities and increased safety measures during public events not connected to the World cup. The issue of hooliganism was largely overlooked by Russia until more than 100 of the team’s supporters, most of them weird looking with shaved heads, tattoos and muscles, pounced on the English supporters in the French port of Marseille during Euro 2016. The bloody scenes that followed shocked Europe and saw the Russian fans proclaim themselves king of the football underworld. “It was like winning against Brazil in football” a fan who took part named Andrei told AFP in France. Andrei and many others who battled the English have since either spent time in Russia prisons or been forced to sign police promises not to cause any trouble in the weeks to come.

The world cup organizers in Russia have also tried to keep out undesirable elements by introducing fan ID cards that everyone must acquire along with a ticket, this will help weed out potential troublemakers during the competition. The issue of hooliganism is one of the biggest threats of the world cup in Russia and with all the preventive measures being put in place by president Putin and co. in an attempt to successfully host the biggest sporting event to ever take place in Eastern Europe, hooliganism will be reduced to the lowest minimum if not completely eradicated during the course of the competition. This world cup gives president Vladimir Putin the chance to project Russia as a modern state that has regained the superpower status of its Soviet past.