Russian fans clashed with police and other supporters during Euro 2016, with one senior MP in the country encouraging the violence Carl Court/Getty ImagesWhen water poured on football fans through the roof of the Zenit Arena in St Petersburg this summer, the city’s deputy governor had a curious excuse. It was, he said, the fault of gannets which had flown in and pecked their way through a light-reflecting cover on the $1.5 billion (£1.15 billion) stadium with their “powerful beaks”. Six weeks later, as England qualify for the 2018 World Cup, Russia claims that it is well on track to perfect the necessary infrastructure by the time that the host nation plays in the first match on June 14. Twelve cities spread across three time zones in the European swath of the country are rushing to get stadiums and training facilities ready. Bird attacks aside, the tale of…

Source: The Times October 06, 2017 15:56 UTC