England fan arrested MINUTES before Colombia match after ‘defacing statue’
The fan, who was named in local press as Rufus Hall, was filmed apologising to the Russian people in a video that was circulated on social media. The fan was arrested after police found the word ‘England’ had been scrawled across the monument of the Russian football player Fyodor Cherenkov. The video clip of the apology emerged after England beat Colombia in a penalty shootout in an extraordinarily tense match.
Twitter*Getty An England fan has allegedly been arrested for vandalising a statue in Moscow
I’m sorry, I feel embarrassed England fan, Rufus Hall
In the apology video, the fan, wearing an England shirt and with a St George’s flag wrapped around his head, said: “I’m sorry, I feel embarrassed. I've loved this country for the two days I have been here, I have had a lovely time. “I respect the country, I respect the history and had I known this would offend people, I would never have done it and I wholly apologise.” Pictures have emerged on social media of the writing on the statue sparking outrage among Spartak fans.
The police statement was released at the same time as England beat Colombia, meaning the fan was unlikely to have been able to watch the match. Police in Moscow said they “had identified and detained” the person who had defaced the statue, which is near the stadium’s main entrance. According to Championat.com, the supporter could be charged with “violating the rules of behaviour of spectators during official sports competitions”. Other England fans attempted to wash away the writing but it still left a red mark across the monumental statue.
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