Visa powers help English fans

Last Modified: 08 May 2008
Source: ITN

The Russian parliament has given the president power to suspend normal immigration rules for the Champions League final.

Chelsea and Manchester United fans have been told they can travel to Moscow without the usual visas if they have a valid ticket for the match.

Now the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, has decided newly-elected president Dmitry Medvedev should be able to suspend the visa requirement for future events too if it is in the national interest.

More than 40,000 supporters are expected to make the trip from England to Russia and the rule is also likely to apply when the winter Olympics are staged in Russia in 2014.

MP Mikhail Grishakov said: "Nearly 40,000 foreign citizens should be coming to the given game, that's the minimum."

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