England supporters are staying away from this year’s World Cup with few fans heading to Russia.
According to a report in The Sun, the Three Lions “have fewer World Cup ticket sales than Peru and China” with just 30,711 tickets sold.
It’s an indication that England fans believe they will be targeted by the notorious Russian ‘ultras’, the trained hooligans who inflicted such devastation during the 2016 European Championships in France.
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Several England fans were beaten unconscious during vicious attacks in Marseille and with relations between Britain and Russia at rock bottom there is a fear there will be similar assaults during the World Cup.
The Sun reports that England supporters’ websites have been issued with death threats and online football forums and social media in Russia “are awash with sinister threats and images showing thugs training for the blood-thirsty battle ahead”. One ‘ultra’ wrote: “You want a war, then you will have it. Fighting is in our blood - this June we will do more than just sing.”
That such talk has had an effect on England supporters and just 30,000 tickets have been sold with the start of the tournament seven weeks away. Four years ago more than 25,000 travelled to Brazil despite the cost and distance.
In contrast 796,875 tickets have been sold to Russia fans, while German supporters have snapped up 55,136 tickets. Interestingly, there is strong interest from the Central and South American nations with Colombia (60,199 tickets), Mexico (51,736) and Argentina (44,882) all guaranteed a good number of supporters.
Even Peru (38,544), China (36,841) and Australia (34,628) have all sold more tickets than England, as Three Lions supporters decide that discretion is the better part of valour.
But are some fans trying to sell their tickets through illegal avenues in the hope of making a profit?
The Sun claims that two tickets to watch England take on Tunisia on 18 June - which have a face value of £296 on Fifa’s website - are being touted for between £490 and £11,237.