You're reading: Criminal investigation opened into mass fight between football fans in Kyiv

Kyiv police have opened a criminal case into a mass brawl on Sunday between the supporters of FC Dynamo Kyiv and FC Arsenal Kyiv in the capital city.

The criminal case was opened under part 4 of Article 296 of the Criminal Code (hooliganism committed by a group of people), which envisages a punishment of up to seven years in prison, Interfax-Ukraine learnt at the main department of the Interior Ministry in Kyiv.

Four people asked for medical assistance after the fight, two of whom were hospitalized. Police are continuing to question some two-dozen detainees to find out the circumstances of the incident and the extent of the participation of each of them in the brawl.

A Russian citizen was among the detainees, the police said. He claims that he is not a football fan and just happened to be there. The police are checking his statement.

A squabble started between several supporters of FC Arsenal and those of Dynamo Kyiv at a bus stop near the Lukyanivska metro station on Sunday evening, the police said. It soon turned into a fight.

The police believe that the fight occurred spontaneously and was not pre-arranged. Dynamo beat Arsenal 1:0 in Kyiv on Sunday evening.