Organizers of the 2018 World Cup "issued a veiled warning to England fans that there will be zero tolerance" toward "massed groups congregating at bars," after a group of Chileans was allegedly "stopped from singing their national anthem" in the city center. Head of the Russia Department of Sport & Tourism Nikolai Gulyaev said that "security is our top concern" when asked if the treatment of Chileans suggested that England fans might be prevented from celebrating in large numbers. At an event marking Moscow's part in the Confederations Cup, Gulyaev "came under fire over the apparent heavy-handed treatment of high-spirited Chileans after their 2-0 win over Cameroon on Sunday" (London DAILY MAIL, 6/20).
FIFA defended the use of video assistant referees in the Confederations Cup, saying that the technology is "the future of football." The system has been used five times so far in Russia, "causing confusion -- at times -- for spectators." FIFA President Gianni Infantino said, "We have seen how video assistance has helped referees to make the correct decisions" (BBC, 6/19).
