All news

Russian Football Union bans laser pointers at stadiums

This measure should safeguard the players from an act of hooliganism of some extremist fans and to violate the principles of fair play

MOSCOW, November 18 (Itar-Tass) —— The Russian Football Union banned the use at matches and bringing the laser pointers to the stadium.

The decision was taken over frequent cases to use laser pointers at the stadiums in order to blind the players and hamper the match, the organization said in a statement. “This measure should safeguard the players from an act of hooliganism of some extremist fans and to violate the principles of fair play,” the statement runs.

The statement of Spartak Moscow goalkeeper from Ukraine Andrei Dikan that he was blinded by laser at the match was resounding in Russian media. In some cases the laser may harm the vision.

However, the Russian Football Union did not note what sanctions are envisaged for this violation of the public order rules. It is also unclear how the organizers are going to observe control over the rules, if they fail to confiscate banned pyrotechnics and explosives at the stadiums, for which the Russian Football Union fines the clubs after each round.