EURO 2016 WAS marred by violence last summer as Russian and English fans clashed on the streets of Marseille.
In a BBC documentary that airs tonight, Russian hooligans reveal how they trained in advance of the tournament in order to cause maximum damage.
“We were quite determined to go there and mess up with the British guys,” the masked leader says.
“I would say a lot of the British went over to France to have some fun, to shout around, to throw some glasses.
It was like 200 professionals fighting 2,000 amateurs.”
There are real fears that the 2018 World Cup, which is being hosted by Russia, will witness similar scenes when supporters of 31 other nations arrive in 16 months’ time.
Footage shows young men auditioning to join local firms by fighting a secret wooded locations.
Asked how one would avoid being attacked at next year’s tournament, he responds with laughter, saying:
“I don’t know, have a family and children around you. If you’re there with your male friend you should calculate with getting your ass kicked.”
However, Fifa president Gianni Infantino says he does not fear such trouble at the World Cup.
“I am not concerned about trouble in 2018, I have full confidence in the Russian authorities,” Infantino told AFP and a small group of reporters in Doha.
Russia’s Hooligan Army is on BBC 2 at 9pm tonight
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