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British fan apologizes for scrawling ‘England’ on statue of Soviet football legend

The fan was hauled in after the match at Moscow’s Spartak Arena on Tuesday night when England defeated Colombia as a result of a 4-3 penalty shootout

MOSCOW, July 4. /TASS/. A football fan who vandalized the statue of renowned Soviet football legend Fyodor Cherenkov by writing "England" on it ahead of that country’s Last 16 stage match with Colombia has apologized for his misconduct, a Moscow police source told TASS on Wednesday.

"The young man who arrived in Russia from England has apologized to police officers for vandalizing the statue of Fyodor Cherenkov," the source said.

The 20-year old fan was hauled in after the match at Moscow’s Spartak Arena on Tuesday night when England defeated Colombia as a result of a 4-3 penalty shootout.

A probe was launched into the incident and the fan is facing a fine between 3,000 and 10,000 rubles ($47 and $158) or a ban to visit sports competitions for up to three years, police said. He can be also sent to do community service for 160 hours.

Fyodor Cherenkov played for Spartak Moscow in 1977-90 and 1991-94. He is widely seen as the team's best player ever.