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Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia
Politician Offers to Send Russian Soccer Fans to Quell Riots in France
2005-11-09
Deputy Speaker of the Russian State Duma Vladimir Zhirinovsky has offered France help to restore order in the violence-stricken country, RIA Novosti reported Wednesday. Special units of Russian football fans and Zhirinivsky’s LDPR party activists could end the riots within 48 hours, he claimed.
I'd buy the Pay-Per-View for that.
Zhirinovsky, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, sent his offer to the Russian ambassador in France, asking the latter to pass the telegram on to the French authorities. “We are ready to form volunteer units of football fans and LDPR activists who have served in hot spots,” the telegram read with reference to individuals with military experience in combat zones.

“I am convinced that our initiative would restore total order and calm the rioting in 48 hours,” the telegram went on to say.
Posted by:Steve

#10  Aris is right. Zhirinivsky is funny, yet not.
Posted by: Secret Master   2005-11-09 17:48  

#9  I think Aris may have a point. Wasn't Arkan (IIRC) involved with football teams/hooliganism in Serbia during the war there?
Posted by: Xbalanke   2005-11-09 16:38  

#8  One ball in the head too many, Aris?
Posted by: Edson Arantes Do Nascimento   2005-11-09 16:11  

#7  Amusing, yeah, but it *might* hide a piece of nasty truth behind it -- I've sometimes have had the feeling that soccer hooliganism in *certain* nations (including Greece) has been used as sort of recruiting and training grounds for "fascist youth" organizations. I could tell you several indications that point to that direction, though not anything which is particularly definitive by itself.

Until now. That Zhirinovsky, himself a neofascist without a question, proposes putting "special units of football fans" in the same category and use as his own "party activists" (aka fascists trained in violence) shows that this may be true in Russia as well.
Posted by: Aris Katsaris   2005-11-09 15:56  

#6  Wrong again. I've got to stop assuming ScrappleFace when I see headlines like this.
Posted by: Xbalanke   2005-11-09 15:10  

#5  I would send Millwall, Chelsea, Cardiff, Swansea and Leeds
Posted by: Wayne Bin Rooney   2005-11-09 14:36  

#4  Zhirinovsky is a scumbag, but funny is funny, lol.
Posted by: Laurence of the Rats   2005-11-09 12:15  

#3  We all remember who this Vladimir Zhirinovsky is, right? He's a neo-nazi. Geeez....

A stopped clock is right twice per day...
Posted by: BigEd   2005-11-09 12:00  

#2  Oh dear *wipes eyes* I was not expecting that at all. But my chair is upright again, and nothing got on the keyboard, so no harm done.
Posted by: trailing wife   2005-11-09 11:39  

#1  Send in English soccer fans; 24 hours tops.
Posted by: Raj   2005-11-09 11:33  

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