As the FIFA World Cup 2018 concluded in Russia on Sunday with France becoming champions, President Vladimir Putin gave a surprise gift to the foreign visitors who came for the tournament from across the globe as he said that foreigners holding ‘fan ID’ cards for the World Cup 2018 can have multiple visa-free entries to Russia for the rest of the year.
Putin also said that fans at the World Cup showed that “football can manage not to divide people and not lead to fights and disputes, but unite people”.
“We can surely be proud of how we organised this tournament,” Putin said in televised comments after France’s victory against Croatia.
“We have made this grand event a success in every respect,” he added.
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“We have done it for our supporters, for Russians who are passionate about the sport and for all those who love sport across the world.”
Putin thanked the foreign fans who came to Russia for the tournament.
Before it started a month ago, there had been concerns due to the memory of violence between Russian and English fans during the Euro 2016 tournament in France.
Fans at this World Cup, however “showed that sport and football can manage not to divide people and not lead to fights and disputes, but unite people on the basis of common values,” Putin said.
“People tried to scare us by saying the English would come and commit hooliganism. But everyone behaved in a most exemplary manner.”
Visa-waiver for fans
The fan IDs which permitted ticket-holders to enter Russia during the World Cup had initially been due to expire on July 25.
Now, “foreign supporters who currently have fan IDs will be able to benefit from multiple entries into the Russian Federation without a visa until the end of the year,” Putin said.
Despite the high diplomatic tension between Moscow and the West, world football officials and personalities, as well as world leaders, have lined up to praise Russia’s hosting of the tournament.