Football: Russia to strengthen 2018 World Cup security

FIFA Director of Competitions Colin Smith attending a press conference for the 2018 World cup in Russia.
PHOTO: EPA

(AFP) - Security at the 2018 World Cup will be strengthened in the wake of the terror attacks in Paris, Russia's Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko promised on Tuesday.

The vow came after Russia's 2018 World Cup local organising committee met with inspectors from Fifa.

"We discussed the problems of security in detail," Mutko, who is also the head of the 2018 World Cup organising committee, told a press conference after the meeting.

"The security plan has already been approved. Taking into consideration the situation in the world, security measures will be intensified."

The minister said that security at the World Cup construction sites had already been toughened up.

He added that the fan zones at the 2017 Confederation Cup and the World Cup will be at the centre of the security forces' attention.

Mutko said recommendations for security measures across Europe would be discussed shortly.

"It's very important to apply these measures not just in a single country but everywhere," Mutko said.

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