Police waded into the crowd with batons after a mass brawl erupted at the Russian Olympic wrestling trials, but made no arrests, a police spokesman has told RIA Novosti.
The fight broke out during a Greco-Roman bout Friday between Denis Tsargush and Adam Saitiev, both double world champions, when fans traded insults before a scuffle.
Police entered the crowd to restore order, which took around half an hour.
A police spokesman played down the incident, which was broadcast live on TV.
“There was a conflict situation. It didn’t reach the point of clashes,” he said Friday.
“A group of aggressively-minded fans were led out,” he said, adding that no arrests were made.
The wrestling tournament runs through Sunday, and will determine Russia’s Olympic squad in a sport where the country is traditionally among the favorites.
Brawls broke out in the stands at the same event in 2007 in Moscow.
