Russia worried about Champions League violence

By Adrian Croft

LONDON (Reuters) - Russia is worried about possible fan violence in Moscow during next week's Champions League final after the clashes in Manchester this week, but is doing all it can to prevent it, Russia's ambassador to London said on Friday.

A Russian fan was stabbed in the back before Russian team Zenit St Petersburg's 2-0 win over Rangers in the UEFA Cup final in Manchester on Wednesday.

Nearly 50,000 English fans are expected to flock to Moscow for the showdown between Chelsea and Manchester United.

"There are some concerns but we hope that the Russian authorities, in close cooperation with the relevant British authorities, will try to maintain law and order," Ambassador Yuri Fedotov told Reuters in an interview.

"I hope everything will go well and that people will be able to avoid such clashes as happened ... in Manchester," he said.

Fighting between Scottish fans and riot police in the centre of Manchester later left 15 police officers injured and led to 42 arrests.

Fedotov said Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko had pledged the authorities would take all necessary measures to maintain law and order during the Champions League final.

He did not think there was a risk of retaliation against English fans in Moscow for the stabbing of the Russian fan in Manchester.