Russia’s Hooligan Army

Russia’s Hooligan Army, by Alex Stockley von Statzer, takes an inside look at fanatical Russian football supporters known as hooligans. Hooliganism is a worldwide phenomenon in which certain groups of fans use matches and tournaments as opportunities to fight and commit various crimes. This has long plagued major FIFA tournaments and remains a concern that many nations continue to address.

The documentary focuses on an organised group of hooligans in Russia as they gear up for the 2018 World Cup. During the 2016 European Championship, violent clashes erupted between Russian and English fans, leaving over 100 English supporters injured and two beaten into a coma. These incidents raised serious safety concerns about Russia’s ability to host a secure 2018 World Cup.

Russia’s Hooligan Army follows trained Russian hooligans as they prepare for the tournament, with groups reportedly conditioning themselves to fight as many foreign hooligan groups as possible.