Football
ESPN staff 7y

FIFA president Gianni Infantino not worried about World Cup violence

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has said he is "not concerned" about the possibility of violence at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Infantino was speaking during a visit to 2022 tournament hosts Qatar, during which he also said the 2026 World Cup could be co-hosted by three or four countries using four or five grounds each.

He was asked about the threat of violence after flashpoints involving Russian supporters, including one in which England fans were injured in clashes in Marseille, marred Euro 2016.

And he said: "I'm not concerned about trouble and violence in 2018. I have full confidence in Russian authorities -- they are taking this matter very, very seriously.

"They have been in contact with UEFA and French organisers to learn the lessons from France.

"As part of this, the Russian government has put in place an ID system which will help us when it comes to any potential trouble."

Infantino said there was a "need to be wary about spreading rumours about hooligans" after a BBC documentary due to be screened on Thursday and including conversations with some of those involved in the 2016 trouble.

The BBC reported that one Russian had told it that "trouble is 100 percent guaranteed" at the 2018 tournament.

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