Arsenal send fans huge warning over Europa League clash with CSKA Moscow

Tensions between the two nations has increased since Prime Minister Theresa May moved to expel 23 Russian diplomats from the UK in the wake of the nerve gas poisoning of former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury on March 4.

Calls had already been made to boycott the World Cup in Russia this summer, but sport and politics were put into a more immediate collision course when Arsenal’s reward for their 5-1 aggregate win against AC Milan was a pairing with CSKA Moscow.

The club will continue to liaise with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and other authorities in the build-up to the two-legged clash, and echoed Government advice to fans thinking of travelling to the game in the Russian capital.

A statement said: “Supporters planning to go to our Europa League quarter-final away to CSKA Moscow on Thursday, April 12 should be aware of the following travel advice, from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office: ‘Due to heightened political tensions between the UK and Russia, you should be aware of the possibility of anti-British sentiment or harassment at this time; you’re advised to remain vigilant, avoid any protests or demonstrations and avoid commenting publicly on political developments’.”

The two sides are due to meet first in north London seven days earlier on April 5, with security concerns again set to be paramount after trouble flared in the previous round between CSKA and Lyon, although French fans were mainly held to blame.

Already there is an undercurrent of unrest since Russian hooligans clashed with England supporters in Marseille ahead of their group game during the 2016 European champions, leading to both nations being threatened with expulsion from the tournament. 

Additionally, there are echoes of the last time CSKA visited the Emirates for a Champions League clash in November 2006 when the poison polonium-210 was found in the stadium in the wake of the goalless draw.

Andrei Lugovoi, the key suspect in the Alexander Litvinenko murder case, had been spotted at the game hours after meeting with the defected Russian spy and allegedly poisoning his tea. ‘Barely detectable’ quantities of the substance were discovered with the Health Protection Agency declaring there was no reason for public concern.