MOSCOW (AP) — Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev says soccer hooligans should be banned for life from matches.
A Russian league game between Dynamo Moscow and Zenit St. Petersburg was called off last week when the Dynamo goalkeeper was injured after a firecracker was thrown from the Zenit stands.
In the wake of disturbances at the Dynamo-Zenit game, the Russian government has drafted a bill to introduce harsh penalties for misbehaving fans, such as temporary suspensions. But on Monday, Medvedev urged the government to go further and introduce life bans for the most notorious hooligans.
Violence at soccer matches as well as hooliganism off the field has been a problem in Russia for years.
