Moscow's Red Square was transformed into a football pitch on Friday (18th September) as Russia launched its 1,000-day countdown to the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

SCRIPTING INFORMATION:

As the 1,000-day countdown to the FIFA World Cup in Russia began on Friday, fans were able to enjoy a flavour of the atmosphere of football's greatest festival in Moscow's Red Square.

The iconic Square has been transformed into a football pitch and players representing the under-16 teams from Italy, Spain and Germany - the three last World Cup winners - had a chance to play in this historic location.

Friday's countdown ceremony culminated with the unveiling of the countdown clock, with former World Cup winners Lothar Matthaus of Germany, Italy's Gianluca Zambrotta, Spain's Fernando Hierro and Russia's Igor Akinfeyev on hand to press the red button and launch the countdown.

Attended by high-ranking FIFA officials, the celebrations came as FIFA remains embroiled in a corruption scandal, partly over the awarding of the 2018 tournament to Russia.

On Thursday (17th September), FIFA secretary-general Jerome Valcke was abruptly relieved of his duties over his alleged involvement in a ticketing scam.

The Kremlin has said that the country honestly participated in the bidding process and that its status as host country should not be called into question.

Similar countdown events are taking place in more than 30 Russian cities, including the host cities of Saint Petersburg and Kazan.

The 2018 World Cup opening match will take place at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium on 14th June, 2018.

Moscow, Russia. 18th September, 2015.

1. 00:00 Pan of replica of World Cup on display in Red Square.

2. 00:22 Various of young players performing football skills.

3. 00:46 SOUNDBITE (English): Colin Smith, FIFA Director of Competitions:

"It's a celebration of football. It marks a significant milestone in our progress towards the tournament. What better way to celebrate it than here on Red Square with an iconic football match, with youth teams from the three last world champions. It's a milestone for the public of Russia, it's a milestone for football fans around the world, and it's also a milestone for us in terms of getting the operations ready. It's all about a celebration and and build up of excitement to the summer of 2018 now."

4. 01:15 Various of ceremony marking 1,000 days to go until World Cup.

5. 02:26 SOUNDBITE (Russian): Vladimir Putin, President of Russia:

+++ for our Russian-speaking clients +++

6. 02:56 Various of ceremony to unveil the countdown clock in Red Square.

7. 03:26 Former World Cup winners Lothar Matthaus of Germany, Italy's Gianluca Zambrotta, Spain's Fernando Hierro and Russia's Igor Akinfeyev help to press red button launching the countdown.

Residents of Moscow were excited for the 2018 FIFA World Cup draw taking place in the Russian capital later on Friday evening.

Valeria Lavrenko, a resident of Rostov visiting Moscow, said she's looking forward to the World Cup "because they have built a stadium in our city."

She said she would support Russia but would also like to see Spain in the final match.

Meanwhile, Ivan Novikov is anxious that Russia doesn't go up against too strong a team.

"We remember the world cup in Brazil we didn't have a strong opponent team but even for our team it was a disaster," he said.

Officials from the 32 World Cup teams have gathered in Moscow to find out who will play who at next year's tournament in Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is due to appear at the draw ceremony, which will take place at the State Kremlin Palace.

Moscow - 1 December, 2017

1. Various of visitors posing in front of world cup countdown clock with Brazilian flag

2. Various of Christmas decorations on Red Square

3. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Gelany (last name not given), Moscow resident:

"I'm waiting for the celebration and for the good performance of our team. I really want everyone to celebrate together with us. We don't need sanctions and we don't need anyone. A celebration is a celebration. So please, welcome to Moscow."

4. Red square

5. Various of 2018 FIFA World Cup mascots in central Moscow

6. Various of visitors taking photos

7. Wide of World Cup decorations

8. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Valeria Lavrenko, tourist from Rostov:

"I'm from Rostov and I'm really looking forward to the World Cup because they have built a stadium in our city. Actually it's a huge event and I will support Russia but I would also like to see Spain in the final match."

Moscow - 30 November, 2017

9. Various of shop selling Adidas sponsored World Cup merchandise

10. Customers

11. Close of 2018 FIFA World Cup football

12. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Ivan Novikov, Moscow resident:

"In order to be successful, we don't want a strong team in our group, we remember the World Cup in Brazil, we didn't have a strong opponent team but even for our team it was a disaster. It is interesting for fans if our team plays England, or Brazil, but for success we don't need a strong opponent team. But I hope we play well."

13. Interior of shop

Moscow - 1 December, 2017

14. Wide of clock

15. Traffic on road

16. Building in Kremlin where the draw will take place

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 The Associated Press.

He likened their situation to that of "hostages" and said the hooligan scene in Russia "is finished."

"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," he said.

Speaking on condition of anonymity to describe numerous illegal acts, he 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 - but in Marseille the Russians wanted to snuff out that reputation.

"It was a game for boys where you must prove who's stronger. There's never any bad intentions," he said.

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 the AP 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.

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.

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.

A world dominated by football's brawlers would have a simple, honourable way to solve disputes, he argued.

"It always goes by the rule of the fist. If you're stronger, you're right," he said. "If there were more people like that, maybe people wouldn't be building missiles."

Moscow, Russia - 16 May 2018

1. Various of clock with countdown to World Cup near Red Square in central Moscow

FILE: Tula, Russia - 1 December 2017

2. Various of Spartak FC (Moscow) fans cheering and lighting flares at a match

Moscow, Russia - 19 May 2018

3. Wide of craft beer festival venue, poster reading (English) "Big Craft Day Moscow"

4. Football fan, who requested not to be identified, walking at beer festival venue

5. SOUNDBITE (Russian) name withheld (spoke on condition of anonymity), veteran football hooligan:

"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 - 11 June 2016

6. Various of Russian and English fans clashing at Euro 2016 in France

Moscow, Russia - 19 May 2018

7. SOUNDBITE (Russian) name withheld (spoke on condition of anonymity), veteran football hooligan:

"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 - 22 May 2018

8. Various of Rostokino district in Moscow where hooligan groups' forest fights have been known to happen

9. Establishing shot of Vladimir Kozlov, filmmaker and author of books on Russian football fans

10. 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. Cutaway of Kozlov

12. 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 - 5 May 2018

13. Various of football fans and security measures before a football match, police on horseback

Moscow, Russia - 21 May 2018

14. Alexander Shprygin, Dinamo FC (Moscow) fan sitting at table

15. Dinamo FC emblem on flag

16. 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. Cutaway of Shprygin

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. Various of legal advice call centre for football fans

20. Various of Oleg Semyonov, head of the legal advice centre

21. 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 - 16 May 2018

22. Various of FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 sign on a building

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.

Final World Cup preparations were underway on Wednesday in the Russian cities of Moscow, Sochi, St. Petersburg and Yekaterinburg.

Fans were arriving in the cities, with large groups in particularly high spirits in the capital Moscow.  

With hundreds of thousands of fans expected to travel to the World Cup, Russian President Vladimir Putin said visitors should "feel the hospitality and welcoming nature" of Russia.

Moscow is home to the 81,000-capacity Luzhniki Stadium, the largest stadium in Russia and one of the biggest in Europe.

It's also a venue well versed in staging major matches - including the 2008 UEFA Champions League final when Manchester United beat Chelsea on penalties.

In Sochi, the 48,000-seater venue that was used in the Winter Olympics has re-opened as an open-air football stadium and was already used in the 2017 Confederations Cup.

The stadium will be back in service to host four World Cup group games: Portugal v Spain, Belgium v Panama, Germany v Sweden and Australia v Peru.

Russians in Saint Petersburg - where the 60,000-seater stadium will host four first round group matches, a quarter-final, a semi-final, and the match for third place – are welcoming the improvements made to the city as they await fans.

So too do Yekaterinburg residents, who are happy about the positive changes the World Cup has brought - the improved pavements, clean streets and new road junctions have changed the city and made it more comfortable.

Moscow - 13 June 2018

1. Various of Colombian football fans fans chanting and dancing in downtown area

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Leonardo Ramires, Colombia supporter:

"It's a beautiful country, everyone has been great to us, and much respect to everyone here, we came to destroy the world cup and to make it number one back in Colombia, hopefully one day."

3. Wide pan of Manezhnaya  Square with crowds of fans and tourists

4. Various of fans gathering and chanting, many with flags

5. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Jose Forero, Colombia supporter:

"Here we're sharing the common the spirit of the goal, that's what unites people. Football is unity of people, fans."

6. Group playing football in square

7. Tunisia fans chanting with flag

8. Fountain

9. Family taking selfie with the mascot of the 2018 World Cup

10. Various of 2018 World Cup installation at Manezhnaya Square

11. Various of "Russia 2018" sign, fans, countdown clock

12. Soldiers marching past

Sochi – 13 June 2018

13. Various of area near Fisht Stadium

14. Various of city volunteers

15. Various of worker on raised platform putting up banner

16. Various of women working at information kiosk, waving to camera and saying UPSOUND (English) "Welcome to Sochi"

17. Tourists, World Cup mascot statues

18. SOUNDBITE (English) vox pop, no names given:

First speaker: "Sochi's really beautiful. People is really, really nice and we're really, really happy here."

Second speaker: "Yes I think these crossroads of different cultures is going to be very good for the city, because you are going to be more popular in the world. So, it's good experience. For you and for everyone."

St. Petersburg – 13 June 2018

19. Wide of Kazan Cathedral

20. World Cup mascot, the wolf "Zabivaka"

21. Alley near Cathedral of the Saviour on the Blood

22. Cathedral in background, fan zone area in foreground

23. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Anna Repina, tourist from Yekaterinburg:

"We hope for the victory of our team (Russia). We understand that the chances are small. We hope that they will reach the semifinals, or the quarterfinals."

24. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Nikita Khudyakov, tourist from Samara:

"I see what's happening in the city, how it's updated. The city is very beautiful originally, but how renovated the streets and buildings now, it's amazing."

25. SOUNDBITE (English) Marcus Domínguez, tourist from Mexico:

"We have tickets for five games and St. Petersburg was our first destination. From here we go to Moscow and five other cities. So, this is a beautiful place, we're walking around here and getting to know the city centre. It's a beautiful day. What more can you ask for?"

26. Trinity Bridge

27. Wide of the Peter and Paul Fortress

28. Vasilyevsky Island

Yekaterinburg - 13 June 2018

29. Central Stadium (Yekaterinburg-Arena)

30. Statues being cleaned at the Stadium

31. "Russia 2018" sign

32. SOUNDBITE (English) Alfonso Ofreria, supporter from Uruguay:

"Well, today is just to walk around, you know, to know all of the neighbourhoods. And may be tonight or tomorrow go out to a pub. And you know that on Friday is the day of the match, so the idea is to be near the stadium and feel all the atmosphere around it. And just go to the match."

33.  SOUNDBITE (Russian) Ekaterina Yunyashina, Russian citizen:

"We really like the way the city has been changing. Because we're just walking and enjoying: everything is so clean. We have noticed that flowers have been sown- quite a lot of flowers there are now. And even though there's no summer, there are still green areas. And therefore, we do really like it."

34. SOUNDBITE (Russian) Derkhanov Ekhibek, Yekaterinburg citizen:

"I believe that it is fine (there being lots of police in the city). That's the way to check everybody, so to speak. It's not that they stop me too often for checking. I consider that it is required to check everyone. This is correct. These are the security measures."

35. Various of police working on the streets

Representatives of the 32 World Cup finalists will gather at Moscow's Kremlin on Friday (1st December) for the 2018 World Cup draw.

SCRIPTING INFORMATION:

Officials from the 32 World Cup teams have gathered in Moscow to find out who will play who at next year's tournament in Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is due to appear at the draw ceremony, which will take place Friday at the State Kremlin Palace.

The draw will be presided over by former England striker Gary Lineker, who has previously called for FIFA to be disbanded over bribery scandals and questioned Russia's legitimacy to host the World Cup.

The 32 finalists will be split into eight groups of four teams.

Only Europe can have two teams in the same group.

Russia will play the opening game on June 14.

The final will be held on July 15.

Moscow, Russia - 1st December, 2017

1st December, 2017

1. 00:00 World Cup countdown clock

2. 00:14 Wide of Red Square

3. 00:20 Reporter in front of St. Basil's Cathedral

4. 00:25 Entrance to World Cup Draw event

29th November, 2017

5. 00:33 World Cup draw rehearsals

1st December, 2017

6. 01:09 VOX POP (English): Iosif Rovkah

"(Russia's) Best result during a World Cup were semi-finals in 1966. So we hope at least we repeat semi-finals. We hope so. About a favourite team from my point of view - we hope it could be either Germany or Portugal. It's my opinion."

7. 01:39 Crowds near St. Basil's

8. 01:46 VOX POP (Arabic): Mokles Boubeker

"Tunisia has a good team and good players. We've had so many changes lately and we will play a secondary role in the World Cup. We hope we will get a good draw tonight. In football sometimes you win and sometimes you lose."

9. 02:15 Tilt down of St. Basil's Cathedral to World Cup draw sign

10. 02:23 Close-up of sign

SOURCE: SNTV

DURATION: 02:27

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