Mixing football and politics is unacceptable, Moscow police chief Vladimir Kolokoltsev said after a meeting with Russian Football Union President Sergei Fursenko, representatives from Moscow football clubs and veteran football fans.
"We are very concerned by the situation where the feelings of any normal person – love for sports, respect for sports organizations – are being speculated, when calls are being made for inter-ethnic hatred and intolerance," Kolokoltsev told journalists, commenting on the events that occurred in the Manezhnaya Square on Saturday.
The riot organizers have nothing to do with real fans, but they pursue their political goals, said the Moscow police chief.
"People who gathered yesterday at the square demanded from me that Section 282 of the Russian Penal Code (inciting inter-ethnic hatred) be abolished, and chanted "2-8-2." I am more than certain that most riot organizers have nothing to do with sports organizations but used the tragic pretext for their nationalist games," Kolokoltsev said.
At the meeting the parties agreed on the need to pass legislation regulating behavior at stadia, and the Moscow Central Police Department will submit the relevant initiative with the Moscow City Duma, he said.
"The conversation was objective, focusing on the most poignant issues that need to be dealt with in the first place. We have agreed that these meetings will be regular," Kolokoltsev said.
Using sports for political goals is unacceptable, Fursenko said.
"Politics is off-limits when it comes to football. We will not allow some protests to provoke us. No party or movement will be able to force us chant their slogans," Fursenko said.
The RFU chief extended his condolences to the family of Spartak fan Yegor Sviridov killed on Monday.
"Now is the time for tough laws to be passed against those people who break the rules, time to fully formalize fans’ behavior at stands. These laws must be passed in the nearest future. I am urging our lawmakers to pay particular attention to these laws. There must be clear unavoidability of punishment for those who provoke and those who violate the Russian law," Fursenko said.
Moscow clubs fans did not take part in riots in Manezhnaya Square, said Amir Khuslyutdinov, veteran of the Spartak FC fan movement.
"We were at Kronshtadsky boulevard, there was not a single incident there. And there was ideal order at the funerals. Saboteurs from various political parties should better stay clear from us. Politics is off-limits when it comes to football and hockey," Khuslyutdinov said.
He urged fans not to take part in events organized by political movements.
"We have official website where information can be obtained about the events we organize. Currently, we are working out a consolidated position, and each fan club will address its fans. WE will be calling for law and order," Khuslyutdinov said.
"What happened a day earlier has nothing to do with football. Some people want to use stands to express what they cannot say elsewhere, but this is not going to happen. Fans and representatives from all Moscow teams are saying this will not happen," said Spartak FC head coach Valery Karpin, who attended the meeting.
