After the 2018 World Cup, more than five thousand foreign fans remained in Russia

After the 2018 FIFA World Cup, more than five thousand foreign fans continue to stay in Russia illegally. Most of them are citizens of Nigeria and Vietnam, RIA Novosti reports citing the press service of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs .

“Of the specified category of people (fans), the largest number are citizens of Nigeria (1863), Vietnam (911), Bangladesh (456), Senegal (253),” the department said in a statement.

At the same time, the national teams of Vietnam and Bangladesh did not participate in the championship at all.

The press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs clarified that work to identify and expel foreign fans from Russia continues. Foreigners who fail to leave within the established time frame are subject to administrative liability under Article 18.8 of the Code of Administrative Offences.

In total, during the 2018 World Cup, 650 thousand foreign citizens entered the Russian Federation using a fan card.

As of December 31 last year, there were more than 12 thousand football fans who remained in Russia illegally. Thanks to the work of the police, by the end of January their number was reduced to 5.5 thousand. The complete expulsion of illegal immigrants is scheduled for March 30.