Soccer fan apologises for defaced statue
An England fan has apologised after being detained in Moscow for defacing the statue of a Russian football hero.
The fan is seen in a video posted online by Sport24.ru in which he says he is sorry for any offence caused by writing "England" on the monument to Fyodor Cherenkov outside Spartak Stadium.
Russian police released a statement saying a man had been detained on Tuesday as England beat Colombia on penalties, but released after the match.
In the video, the man, dressed in an England shirt and a St George's Cross flag wrapped around his head, said: "I feel sorry, I feel embarrassed.
"I love this country. For the two days I have been here, your people have been welcoming, I've had a lovely time.
"I would never disrespect the country - I respect the history. And had I known this would offend people I would never have done it and I wholly apologise."
He is expected to receive a fine.
Russian social media users were angry at the graffiti scrawled on the chest of the likeness of the former Spartak Moscow player, who died in 2014.
Cherenkov remains a hero to Spartak fans after winning three Soviet titles and one Russian title with the club, and thousands of fans reportedly attended his funeral after his death at 55.
A steward who stood guard at the monument after the match said the graffiti had been cleaned off swiftly.
