Fan detained at World Cup after statue vandalized

AP  |  Moscow 

said they have detained a person after a statue was vandalised at the stadium where England played at

Russian posted a picture of the statue of former Spartak Moscow Fyodor Cherenkov, who died in 2014, with the word "England" inscribed in red across the chest.

Police said that an investigation is underway and "as a result of the measures taken by police, the individual who committed this act has been identified and detained."

Police did not identify the suspect, or specify a nationality.

The police statement was released at almost the exact moment England beat in a penalty shootout, indicating the person who was detained didn't get to watch the match.

The vandalism prompted a storm of criticism of English fans on Russian social networks, with users calling them poor guests at Russia's

Cherenkov is not well known outside Russia, but remains a hero to Spartak fans after winning three Soviet titles and one Russian title with the club. When he died in 2014 aged 55, reportedly of a brain tumor, thousands of fans attended his funeral.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Wed, July 04 2018. 09:40 IST