Categories: World Soccer

FIFA president: Russia World Cup will not be a ‘war’

“We are not going to war,” Infantino said. “You will see that we are going to have a football party and if anyone wants to cause trouble, they will have problems.”

“The Russians are very committed to this World Cup being a total success,” he told a news conference in Panama.

There are concerns violence could erupt between fanatical “ultras,” particularly Russian and English fans, who clashed at the 2016 European Championship tournament in France.

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However, the FIFA chief — explaining he had been involved in the organization of four European Championships — confirmed organizers in Russia are pulling out all the stops to avoid such incidents.

“I have a little bit of experience in organizing big events and I have to say that I have never seen the level of preparation — especially in security — that I am seeing in Russia anywhere else,” he said.

The tournament — which runs from June 14 to July 15 — is set to attract fans from all over the world, as spectators will not need a visa to attend.

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By Agence France Presse