Russia votes to tighten law on sports disturbances

Russian lawmakers have voted to double fines for troublemakers at sports events, a year before the country hosts the World Cup. The lower house of parliament voted today to raise the penalties for disturbances in and around stadiums to between 40,000 and 50,000 rubles ($690 and $860). Under existing law, fans causing trouble at sports events can also be detained for up to 15 days and banned from sports events in Russia for up to seven years.