The Russian city of St. Petersburg marked 100 days to go until the start of the FIFA Confederations Cup on Thursday (9th March).

SCRIPTING INFORMATION:

Festivities were organised in St. Petersburg, Russia on Thursday, to mark 100 days until the Confederations Cup begins.

Banners announcing the Confederations Cup were unveiled at the St. Petersburg arena with organisers promising some "beautiful" football at the venue this summer.

Media representatives were taken on a tour of the stadium.

A flashmob was organised at the central square to help celebrate the 100 day countdown.

St.Petersburg, Russia. 9th Match, 2017.

1. 00:00 Various of Confederations Cup sign being unveiled

2. 00:42 Pan of St.Petersburg Arena stadium

3. 00:53 SOUNDBITE: (Russian) Alexei Sorokin, Head of World Cup 2018 Organising Committee:

"In terms of football it's a really beautiful tournament (Confederations Cup), a competition between six winners of continental competitions, an action champion and the hosting country team - that of Russia. So there's no doubt that we can expect amazing football."

4. 01:09 Various of the stadium

5. 01:32 Man showing media the monitoring room

6. 01:38 Brazilian footballer Cafu and Russian Dmitry Sennikov showing their skills with a ball

7. 02:07 Various stadium exteriors

8. 02:34 Various flashmob on Dvortsovaya square and people dancing

9. 02:49 Various of DJ performance

10. 03:01 Football freestyler

11. 03:33 SOUNDBITE: (Russian) Artem Yarutkin, student:

"Finally we will host a championship. Many teams will come to our country and we will have a chance to go and see them playing football, feel all the emotions."

12. 04:15 Various of the flashmob, people dancing

SOURCE: SNTV.

DURATION: 04:50

The future of the Confederations Cup is uncertain after FIFA president Gianni Infantino said "everything is on the table" as the tournament's future is reviewed.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino is warning that the future of the Confederations Cup is uncertain beyond next year's competition in Russia.

Speaking ahead of the draw for the 2017 edition of the tournament, Infantino says it remains unclear how and when the following edition, provisionally set for 2021, will be played.

That's because the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will be held in November and December, meaning the Confederations Cup would cause severe disruption to the club calendar if held in its traditional slot a year before the bigger tournament.

Infantino says "we are putting everything on the table" as FIFA officials discuss questions such as whether it should be played in June or November and does the format need reworking?

"We have next year the Confederations Cup, then we will have the World Cup in 2022 which will be played in November, as you know, and December of 2022," Infantino said.

"This means that we will have to look at the Confederations Cup in any case for that period. Because shall we play it in June, shall we play it in November, shall we think about the format? We are putting everything on the table, we are studying everything, no decisions have been taken on any topic in this respect. And I think it is normal that we discuss, that people can have their views and their opinions, like of course Mr Rummenigge, who is a good friend, and we will discuss it with every one and then we'll find the best solution for the future."

The Confederations Cup was founded in 1992 and since 2005 it has been held in the same nation as the upcoming World Cup host doubling as a test event for local organisers.

The six confederation champions, previous World Cup winners and tournament hosts enter the vent.

The 2017 edition will take place in Russia starting on the 17th of June.

Kazan, Russia. 26th November, 2016.

1. 00:00 Various exterior of Kazan Arena, 2018 Russia World Cup venue.

2. 00:38 Wide shot of Kazan Arena.

3. 00:50 Various of stands of Kazan Arena.

4. 01:17 President of Russian Football Union Vitaly Mutko, FIFA president Gianni Infantino and CEO of 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Local Organising Committee Alexey Sorokin walking in for news conference.

5. 01:35 SOUNDBITE (English) Gianni Infantino, FIFA president:

(On the future of the Confederations Cup, and Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge having said 2017 will be the last edition of the Confederations Cup):

"We have next year the Confederations Cup, then we will have the World Cup in 2022 which will be played in November, as you know, and December of 2022. This means that we will have to look at the Confederations Cup in any case for that period. Because shall we play it in June, shall we play it in November, shall we think about the format? We are putting everything on the table, we are studying everything, no decisions have been taken on any topic in this respect. And I think it is normal that we discuss, that people can have their views and their opinions, like of course Mr Rummenigge, who is a good friend, and we will discuss it with every one and then we'll find the best solution for the future."

6. 02:37 Mutko and Infantino, FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samba Diouf Samoura and Sorokin attending the ceremony for the Kazan countdown clock to the 2018 World Cup.

7. 02:50 Close up of Infantino attending countdown ceremony.

9. 02:56 SOUNDBITE (English) Gianni Infantino, FIFA president:

(On the chance that Germany might not employ several top players in the Confederations Cup):

"Somebody really believes that the Germans don't take something seriously, and in particular a football tournament? You know the old definition of football? It's 22 players playing, and at the end the Germans win. So they will have a very strong team, and so will the others."

10. 03:19 Infantino, Samoura and Mutko attending countdown ceremony.

11. 03:27 SOUNDBITE (English) Gianni Infantino, FIFA president:

"The World Cup in Russia will be the first World Cup where officially we will use the Video Assistance Referee, to help the referees not to make mistakes, or not to make big mistakes. The World Cup, the football World Cup is the biggest event, it's the most important football competition, and if we can help a little bit the referee not to make big mistakes, well then we should take this opportunity."

12. 03:58 Infantino attending countdown ceremony (Upsound "We can count the days, the hours and even the seconds to the start of the World Cup")

13. 04:08 SOUNDBITE (English) Gianni Infantino, FIFA president:

(On the future of the Club World Cup):

"Club football is growing now also outside of Europe and South America, with clubs emerging and wanting to participate, and we need to see if we can find a stage for them, to involve them and to make the world of football benefit from that, then it will be welcome. If we cannot, then we continue. We are I think in this new era where we have to bring topics to the table to debate about competitions."

14. 04:39 News conference.

15 04:47 SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Gianni Infantino, FIFA president:

(On Chilean fans):

"I was in Chile for last year's Copa America. and that was the heart of football. We had an amazing final in Santiago del Chile's stadium, the whole country watching the game, and that's when you see the love for the national team. Obviously there are also some issues that need to be fixed, we have to tell to everybody to come here to celebrate football, and not to cause troubles."

16. 05:38 Cutaway of Infantino at news conference.

17. 05:43 SOUNDBITE (English) Gianni Infantino, FIFA president:

(On FIFA disciplinary case regarding Bolivia fielding an ineligible player in a World Cup qualifier):

"This case is in front of our disciplinary bodies, everyone who has comments to make and those who are sending letters to me they know that as FIFA president I cannot in any case intervene and interfere. But of course the information and the different positions are handed over to the disciplinary bodies who will take the decisions having analysed all the documents. And they are also the masters of the timing, so I don't know when they will take the decision, obviously the sooner the better, so that we have a clear situation in this respect.

18. 06:27 Infantino and Mutko starting the 2018 Russia FIFA World Cup countdown clock, with balloons flying in the air and fireworks, then leaving as smoke from fireworks fills the air.

19 06:50 Various close-ups of countdown clock.

DURATION: 07:00.

The Russian Cup final was played at the Fisht Stadium in Sochi on Tuesday (2nd May) - a dress rehearsal for the forthcoming Confederations Cup.

SCRIPTING INFORMATION:

The Confederations Cup starts on June the 17th - with the Fisht Stadium as one of the venues.

The arena was originally built to house the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2014 Winter Olympics.

That done, a new use had to be found.

Football was the obvious answer - with the World Cup coming in 2018.

But to be compliant with FIFA regulations, the roof had to come off, and other remedial work undertaken.

Now completed, the structure was put to the test at Tuesday's Russian Cup final.

Lokomotiv defeat Ural thanks to two late goals - but the match will probably last longer in the memory for a mass brawl that erupted, deep in injury time.

Four red cards were shown - with further punishment likely to follow.

Tuesday also saw Russia's World Cup head and Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Mutko provide further details on the ID system football fans will use for the most prestigious football tournament in the world.

Sochi, Russia - 2nd May 2017

1. 00:00 Various of the harbour

2. 00:21 Various of the World Cup 2018 countdown clock

3. 00:27 Various of the Fan ID centre exterior

4. 00:33 Russian Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Mutko receiving fan ID

5. 00:44 Information screens

6. 00:47 SOUNDBITE: (Russian) Vitaly Mutko, Russian Deputy Prime Minister

"Everything is quick and comfortable, so I invite everyone once again to receive the Fan ID. I would like to explain that the Fan ID is an element of our security system and also an element of extra services. First of all, every person that has a (fan) ID, a foreign citizen, has an opportunity to cross the border of the Russian Federation with this ID, everything is inside, everything the (usual) passport has. This ID can be received here on the spot in any Fan ID Centre. We will open them close to stadiums during the World Cup. There is a decision now, special amendments to the law, that the foreign citizen can get an electronic version through e-mail that makes it possible to cross the border and then the electronic ID can be changed for an original one that he will use further."

7. 01:47 Mutko talking to journalists

8. 01:50 SOUNDBITE: (Russian) Yuri Syomin, Lokomotiv coach

"My main feeling is that I'm delighted with our players. We had quite a complicated period, there were quite heavy defeats, there were not really quality games. But today they have reached the final very professionally and played with great quality, in my opinion, so we deserved this victory."

9. 02:31 Children's soccer team walking

10. 02:41 Volunteers greeting them, UPSOUND (Russian) "Hello dear city residents, we are happy to welcome you in the Olympic park!"

11. 02:50 SOUNDBITE: (Russian) Alexander Tarkhanov, Ural coach

"The load of responsibility was too heavy, not everyone can stand this load. However in terms of performance I can't make any claims to anyone. Everybody moved, fought, but not everything turned out as we planned. But on the whole the game was good and there was lots of fighting. We didn't give full swing to Lokomotiv anyway. They shot at goal from middle and long-range and only (Igor) Denisov's shot gave them victory. The second goal was a consequence of tactics being changed."

12. Various of the Confederation's Cup ticket centre

SOURCE: SNTV

DURATION: 04:00

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SHOTLIST: Moscow, Russia. 3 February 2016.

1. 00:00 Former France international Christian Karembeu on stage holding the Confederations Cup

2. 00:06 Journalists

3. 00:11 Confederations Cup

4. 00:16 Countdown ceremony 500 days to the FIFA Confederations Cup 2017

5. 00:21 Screen showing players with cup and the emblem of the Confederations Cup 2017

6. 00:28 SOUNDBITE (Russian) Vitaly Mutko, Russian Sport Minister:

"We invite all fans, not only from Russia but also from the whole world to this tournament. Of course we want the Confederations Cup to take place on a (high) level so that the guests of this tournament would like to come to the World Cup. We hope that the Russian national team performs successfully at this tournament because the potential of our national team is unexplored."

7. 00:51 Football

8. 00:55 SOUNDBITE (Russian) Alexei Sorokin, CEO of the Russia 2018 World Cup organising committee:

"It's important that the entry to Russia will be simplified. The visa-free entry will be guaranteed, as Russia stated in the proposal. As to transportation, we will provide shuttles between airports of all cities and the main objects of the Confederations Cup - stadiums and city centres."

9. 01:19 Journalists

10. 01:24 SOUNDBITE (Russian) Alexei Sorokin, CEO of the Russia 2018 World Cup organising committee:

"Traditionally, the ticket sale starts after the draft. We expect the (ticket) sale to start in the beginning of December. Unfortunately, I can't tell you anything about the prices - it's the responsibility of the tournament organisers, the responsibility of FIFA."

11. 01:40 Officials on stage

12. 01:45 Screen showing stadia in Moscow, Kazan and Sochi and the emblem of the Confederations Cup 2017

13. 02:05 Journalists

14. 02:10 SOUNDBITE (Russian) Vitaly Mutko, Russian Sport Minister:

"There are no reasons for reconsidering the right to hold the World Cup in Russia and Qatar. If they existed, they would have been presented long ago. I think that these conversations are inappropriate two and a half years before (the World Cup starts). We have already passed the point of no return. The schedule is finalised, the structure is set up."

15. 02:30 Journalists

16. 02:35 Christian Karembeu in front of journalists

17. 02:41 SOUNDBITE (English) Christian Karembeu, former France international:

"When we talk about football we can talk about integration, we can talk about sport without discrimination, we can talk about dialogues. And like I said in French that Russia have many ethnics in this country and I think that Russia will give us a great example when we going to come to see the tournament."

18. 03:15 Teenagers posing for photo with Karembeu in front of journalists

SOURCE: SNTV

DURATION: 3:21

STORYLINE:

The countdown to the FIFA Confederations Cup began in Moscow on Wednesday (3 February) with 500 days to go until the tournament commences.

SCRIPTING INFORMATION:

The countdown ceremony marking 500 days to the Confederations Cup 2017 took place in central Moscow on Wednesday.

The tournament emblem was unveiled at the event which was attended by Russian Sport Minister Vitaly Mutko, CEO of the Russia 2018 World Cup LOC Alexei Sorokin and former France international Christian Karembeu plus other officials.

The competition consists of the winners from each FIFA confederation tournament.

As World Cup hosts Russia qualify automatically with Germany, Australia, Chile and Mexico joining them.

The winners of Euro 2016, the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2016 OFC Nations Cup will also compete.

But for the first time in the tournament's history, Brazil don't have a place.

The reigning champions and three-time winners were knocked out on penalties by Paraguay in the quarter-finals of the 2015 Copa America and were humiliated in the semi-finals of the World Cup when they were beaten 7-1 by eventual winners Germany.

Since 2005, the competition has served as a warm-up to the World Cup in the following year.

Four cities will host the 2017 edition: Kazan, Sochi, St Petersburg and Moscow.

Ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup draw on Friday (1st December), SNTV showcase every 2018 World Cup stadium set to play host to football's elite international football tournament next year and detail key countdown moments as host nation Russia prepare to welcome the footballing world.

SCRIPTING INFORMATION:

The draw for the 2018 World Cup finals takes place in Moscow on Friday, with the 31 nations who had to fight through qualifying - and hosts Russia - set to find out who, when and where they will play.

The finishing touches are still being added on stadiums in the 11 Russian cities that will host the 2018 World Cup.

Arenas in Moscow, St Petersburg, Kazan, Sochi, Volgograd, Rostov-on-Don, Samara, Saransk, Ekaterinburg, Kaliningrad and Nizhny Novgorod will host matches in the tournament which will take place in June and July of next year.

The construction works were nearly finished on most stadiums, with the exception of the Samara Arena where developments are behind schedule, and in Saransk where there are questions over whether the pitch will be ready.

Russia were named as hosts of the 21st edition of the World Cup in December 2010, defeating a bid from England and joint bids from Spain-Portugal and the Netherlands-Belgium.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Russian cities and stadiums which will play host to the World Cup 2018 matches.

Ekaterinburg (Ekaterinburg Arena):

The most easterly city hosting matches, situated at the foot of the Ural mountains, and the city where members of the royal family were executed following the October 1917 revolution. The stadium is home to FC Ural, and was initially built in 1953.

Capacity: 35,696*

Matches: Four group games.

Kaliningrad (Kaliningrad Stadium):

The most westerly city to host games. Situated on the Baltic coast, it remains an important Russian seaport. The stadium has been built for the finals, but will be home to FC Baltika Kaliningrad afterwards.

Capacity: 35,212*

Matches: Four group games.

Kazan (Kazan Arena):

Kazan is the capital of the republic of Tatarstan and is home to 1.2 million people. The stadium was built for the World University Games in 2013 and is home to local club Rubin Kazan. It was designed by the same firm of architects behind Wembley Stadium and the Emirates Stadium.

Capacity: 44,779*

Matches: Four group games, one last-16 game, one quarter-final.

Moscow (Luzhniki Stadium)

The main venue for the finals will host the first and last match. Built in the 1950s, it was used during the 1980 Olympic Games and hosts most matches played by the Russian national team and at various times has been home to city clubs Spartak, CSKA and Torpedo. Manchester United fans will remember it fondly - it was here, in driving rain, that the club won their third European title by beating Chelsea on penalties in 2008.

Capacity: 81,006*

Matches: Four group games (including opening match), one last-16 game, one semi-final, final.

Moscow (Spartak Stadium):

Home, as the name suggests, to Spartak Moscow, who despite their reputation and huge fanbase had never truly had a stadium to call their own until it was built. Opened in 2014.

Capacity: 43,298*

Matches: Four group games, one last-16 game.

Nizhny Novgorod (Nizhny Novgorod Stadium):

Built on hills overlooking the Volga river, Nizhny Novgorod has been an important commercial city since the 19th century. One of the new constructions, it will be home to Olympiets Nizhny Novgorod once the finals are over.

Capacity: 45,331*

Matches: Four group games, one last-16 game, one quarter-final.

Rostov-on-Don (Rostov Arena):

An historic city famed for its showcasing of Cossack culture, it sits on the banks of the Don river one thousand kilometres to the south-east of Moscow. FC Rostov will move in once the tournament is finished.

Capacity: 45,145*

Matches: Four group games, one last-16 game.

St Petersburg (St Petersburg Stadium):

The old imperial capital can probably lay claim to having the secondary venue at the tournament, as the stadium hosts some big games including what could be a make-or-break second match for the hosts. It will also host three group matches at the pan-European Euro 2020 finals, as well as one quarter-final, and be the future home to Zenit St Petersburg.

Capacity: 68,134*

Matches: Four group games (including Russia's second match), one last-16 game, one semi-final, third-place play-off.

Samara (Samara Arena):

Capital of the Samara region and home to the offices of Russian state when they were evacuated from Moscow during the Second World War. The dome-shaped stadium will play host to Krylya Sovetov after the tournament.

Capacity: 44,807*

Matches: Four group games (including Russia's third and final group match), one last-16 game, one quarter-final.

Saransk (Mordovia Arena):

The capital of the Mordovia region has a population of just over 300,000. The stadium will be reduced to 25,000 capacity after the tournament, with the space being freed up for other indoor sports on the same complex. It will, though, be home to FC Mordovia.

Capacity: 44,442*

Matches: Four group games.

Sochi (Fisht Stadium):

The resort city on the edge of the Black Sea hosted the 2014 Winter Olympics, and the Fisht Stadium was purpose-built for those Games. It is due to be a training - and match - venue for the Russian national team after the 2018 finals.

Capacity: 47,700*

Matches: Four group games, one last-16 game, one quarter-final.

Volgograd (Volgograd Arena):

The city formerly known as Stalingrad, site of one of World War Two's most pivotal battles, is now an industrial hub home to one million inhabitants. The stadium is built on the site of the old Central ground and will house Rotor Volgograd once the finals are over.

Capacity: 45,568*

Matches: Four group games.

*Stadium capacities are listed on fifa.com website as anticipated gross capacities of stadiums in their finished state. Stadium official capacities during the finals will be lower than those stated.

Various. FILE. Russia.

Moscow, Russia – 18th September, 2015:

1. 00:00 Various of FIFA World Cup trophy in Red Square, Moscow.

2. 00:18 1000 day countdown to World Cup begins, countdown clock unveiled.

Moscow, Russia – 1st June, 2016.

3. 00:28 Russian President Vladimir Putin and FIFA President Gianni Infantino launch volunteer programme for World Cup.

4. 00:32 SOUNDBITE: (English) Gianni Infantino, FIFA President:

"I can promise to the world that thanks to you, the volunteers and the people of Russia, they will witness the best World Cup ever in Russia 2018."

5. 00:49 Crowd cheers launched volunteer programme.

Kazan, Russia – 26th November, 2016.

6. 00:53 Infantino attends launch of countdown clock at World Cup venue – Kazan Arena. Fireworks create cloud of smoke and force him to leave stage.

Yekaterinburg, Russia – 30th January, 2017.

7. 01:05 Various of football fans standing to form number 500 to mark 500 days until World Cup start.

Sochi, Russia – 2nd May, 2017.

9. 01:12 Russian Deputy Premier Minister visits Fan ID centre to showcase how Fan ID will work for the World Cup.

10. 01:22 Various of ticket collection centre.

Sochi, Russia – 19th June, 2017.

11. 01:33 Fans queue for tickets booths before Australia versus Germany in Confederations Cup.

12. 01:54 Various of security equipment and personnel.

13. 02:09 2018 World Cup mascot 'Zabivaka' the wolf – name means 'one who scores' in Russian.

Various, Russia – June 2017.

14. 02:20 Various fans from Chile, Mexico and Russia chanting songs.

Saint Petersburg Stadium – 2nd July, 2017.

15. 02:41 Germany players – spraying champagne – surprise their coach Joachim Loew at post-match news conference. Germany had earlier won the Confederations Cup final with a 1-0 win over Chile.

Rostov-on-Don - 21st August, 2017

16. 02:52 Various of Platov International Airport under construction.

17. 03:14 Various of Rostov Arena. Will host four group matches and one Round of 16 match.

Kaliningrad, Russia – 27th August, 2017.

18. 03:27 Various of Kaliningrad Stadium. Will host four group matches.

Saransk, Russia – 25th August, 2017.

19. 03:42 Various of Mordovia Arena. Will host four group matches.

Ekaterinburg, Russia – 19th August, 2017.

20. 03:58 Various of Ekaterinburg Arena. Will host four group matches.

Volgograd, Russia – 22nd August, 2017.

21. 04:15 Various of Volgograd Arena. Will host four group matches.

Nizhny Novgorod – 26th August, 2017.

22. 04:32 Various of Nizhny Novgorod Stadium. Will host four group matches, one Round of 16 match and one quarter-final.

Samara, Russia – 28th September, 2017.

23. 04:49 Samara Stadium. Will host four group matches, one Round of 16 match and one quarter-final.

Kazan, Russia – 26th November, 2016.

24. 05:11 Various of Kazan Arena. Will host four group matches, one Round of 16 match and one quarter-final.

Moscow, Russia – 2nd March, 2017.

25. 05:37 Various of Spartak Stadium. Will host four group matches and one Round of 16 match.

Sochi, Russia - 1st May, 2017.

26. 05:53 Various of Fisht Stadium. Will host four group matches, one Round of 16 match and one quarter-final.

Saint Petersburg, Russia - 1st May, 2017.

27. 06:11 Various of Saint Petersburg Stadium. Will host four group matches, one Round of 16 match, one semi-final and third-place match.

Moscow, Russia - 5th October, 2017.

28. 06:37 Various of Luzhniki Stadium. Will host four group matches, one Round of 16 match, one semi-final and the final.

SOURCE: SNTV.

DURATION: 07:10.

STORYLINE:

Ahead of the 2018 World Cup, Russian authorities are cracking down on the hooligan culture in domestic football in a bid to host a smoothly run tournament renowned for dramatic contests on the pitch and not off it.

SCRIPTING INFORMATION:

Ahead of the World Cup, Russian authorities are cracking down on the hooligan culture in football.

Groups which wreaked havoc two years ago report surveillance and threats from law enforcement.

Leading hooligans from each club face lengthy prison sentences on old or trumped-up charges if there's trouble at the World Cup, even if they aren't personally involved, a Moscow veteran hooligan told SNTV.

''I definitely won't go to any Russian national team games because, if, God forbid, someone does something, I will be the first to be suspected of doing it," said a veteran hooligan speaking under condition of anonymity.

He also said he had flown to Marseille in 2016 specifically to take part in fights with the English fans on the streets and in the stadium at the European Championship.

England's hooligans of the 1980s and 1990s inspired many Russian groups - most still bear English names.

Alexander Shprygin ran a fan group which worked with the government on World Cup planning, and had been photographed with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but he has rapidly fallen from grace.

Shprygin was twice deported from France during the 2016 tournament and two of his organisation's board members were imprisoned in Marseille over the disorder.

He denies any role.

Three months later, Russian police arrested him in a toilet at a conference held by the national football federation, seeking to question him over an earlier brawl in Russia, and dragged him out past waiting media.

His organisation has been dormant since then.

Shprygin told SNTV that his friends in the hardcore fan scene have been summoned by Russia's Federal Security Service, the heir to the Soviet-era KGB, for "preventative conversations" and many want to go abroad during the World Cup.

''They've switched on all of the legal mechanisms and if before when you violated a rule at a stadium you could leave the stadium and forget about it, now even the slightest violation isn't left unnoticed.

"It's the main event of my life I've been dreaming of all my life and waited for.

''And I not only won't be able to attend the opening match, I won't be able to attend any match of the World Cup at all. Of course it's annoying," said Shprygin.

World Cup tickets are worthless without a Russian government-issue "Fan ID".

Applicants are vetted by the Russian security services, who have denied several thousand Russian fans ID to see games at the World Cup and last year's Confederations Cup, according to Oleg Semyonov, formerly a leader of the Spartak Moscow fan scene, who now runs a legal advice hotline for supporters.

Semyonov says authorities are using a big database which has barred people accused of taking part in football-related disorder - including Shprygin, whose ID was cancelled two hours before a Confederations Cup game - but also some with convictions dating back 20 years for minor offences like jaywalking or public drunkenness.

Most top Russian clubs now have so-called "curators" from the security services who work with the fan organisations and have warned them off disorder, Semyonov added.

While Russian-fronted hooliganism is likely to be relatively absent from the World Cup, Semyonov said he still expected clashes between rival groups hailing from other nations.

"I rather expect some incidents between the Serbian and the Croatians, between Poland and Germany and even between Saudi Arabia and Iran because one side are Shia and others are Sunni and under certain circumstances there might be misunderstandings between them,'' predicted Semyonov.  

Amid the crackdown, the Russian fan scene is increasingly split.

So-called "ultras" focus on coordinated chants, lighting flares and staging elaborate displays at games, but can defend themselves if needed.

The hardcore fighters mostly stick to pre-arranged brawls in forests because of tight stadium surveillance.

Some fighters are drifting away from football and turning to organised mixed martial arts events which offer a chance to make money from their hobby.

The Moscow hooligan also lamented the end of hooliganism's golden era, when battles between rival clubs in Moscow came down to tactics as much as strength.

Hooliganism offers a brotherhood, even for those like the Moscow hooligan, who has a university education and a traditionally middle-class job.

_5th May - 22nd May and FILE. Various. Moscow, Russia. 16th May 2018. 1. 00_00 Various of clock with countdown to World Cup near Red Square in central Moscow FILE - Tula, Russia. 1st December 20172. 00_17 Various of Spartak FC (Moscow) fans cheering and lighting flares at a match Moscow, Russia. 19th May 2018. 3. 00_46 Wide of craft beer festival venue, poster reading _Big Craft Day Moscow_4. 00_51 Football fan, who requested not to be identified, walking at beer festival venue 5. 00_59 SOUNDBITE (Russian)_ Veteran football hooligan_++CLIENT NOTE - name withheld (spoke on condition of anonymity)++ _The World Cup is bad. Because of it we have big problems, a lot of people under investigation — a lot of problems. So it's not very good for us, it's not a festival of football. So me personally, I definitely won't go to any Russian national team games because, if, God forbid, someone does something, I will be the first to be suspected of doing it._FILE - Marseille, France. 11th June 2016.6. 01_23 Various of Russian and English fans clashing at Euro 2016 in FranceMoscow, Russia. 19th May 2018. 7. 01_46 SOUNDBITE (Russian)_ Veteran football hooligan_++CLIENT NOTE - name withheld (spoke on condition of anonymity)++ _Russia reached its peak at that moment. From 2000 to 2010 we had a good growth, a lot of people were involved in it. And when everybody found out that we're playing with the English it was just… I have only been to one match, I came there only for that (to fight) and left the next day. It was important. It was a game for boys where you must prove who's stronger. There's never any bad intentions._Moscow, Russia. 22nd May 2018. 8. 02_16 Various of Rostokino district in Moscow where hooligan groups' forest fights have been known to happen 9. 02_35 Establishing shot of Vladimir Kozlov, filmmaker and author of books on Russian football fans 10. 02_45 SOUNDBITE (Russian)_ Vladimir Kozlov, filmmaker and writer_ _I'd say that today in Russia there are several thousand football hooligans, dispersed all over the country in the movements of various teams._11. 02_55 Cutaway of Kozlov12. 03_02 SOUNDBITE (Russian)_ Vladimir Kozlov, filmmaker and writer_ _There's been no growth for a while now. The number (of hooligans) has been stable. There was growth when it was very fashionable at the end of the 90s to the beginning of the 2000s._Moscow, Russia. 5th May 2018. 13. 03_18 Various of football fans and security measures before a football match, police on horseback Moscow, Russia. 21st May 2018. 14. 03_39 Alexander Shprygin, Dinamo FC (Moscow) fan sitting at table15. 03_47 Dinamo FC emblem on flag16. 03_52 SOUNDBITE (Russian)_ Alexander Shprygin, Dinamo FC fan_ _First of all, the FSB (Federal Security Services, former KGB) has started working on the football fans actively which has never happened before. Secondly they've switched on all of the legal mechanisms and if before when you violated a rule at a stadium you could leave the stadium and forget about it, now even the slightest violation isn't left unnoticed._17. 04_13 Cutaway of Shprygin18. 04_18 SOUNDBITE (Russian)_ Alexander Shprygin, Dinamo FC fan_ _It's the main event of my life I've been dreaming of all my life and waited for. And of course every football fan dreams of being at Luzhniki stadium to see the opening match with the Russian national team. And I not only won't be able to attend the opening match, I won't be able to attend any match of the World Cup at all. Of course it's annoying._19. 04_37 Various of legal advice call centre for football fans 20. 04_53 Various of Oleg Semyonov, head of the legal advice centre21. 05_07 SOUNDBITE (Russian)_ Oleg Semyonov, head of legal advice hotline for football fans_ _I rather expect some incidents between the Serbian and the Croatians, between Poland and Germany and even between Saudi Arabia and Iran because one side are Shia and others are Sunni and under certain circumstances there might be misunderstandings between them. As for us, all of these football fans are our guests._Moscow, Russia. 16th May 2018. 22. 05_32 Various of FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 sign on a buildingSOURCE_ SNTVDURATION_ 05_41