Russian football fans must behave themselves to avoid harming the team’s chances of qualifying for Euro 2016, midfielder Alan Dzagoev said Thursday.
Russia received a suspended six-point deduction from Euro 2016 qualifying and the Russian Football Union was fined €120,000 for crowd disturbances and the use of pyrotechnics after Russia’s opening 4-1 win over the Czech Republic last week.
Video has emerged showing Russian fans assaulting Polish stewards after the match, and four stewards were reportedly hospitalised.
“Of course we don’t want six points being taken off us,” Dzagoev, who scored two goals against the Czechs, said.
“The fans should be more restrained, so that their behavior doesn’t cause harm to the team.”
Despite the crowd trouble, Dzagoev said the whole team appreciated the Russian fans’ passion at Euro 2012.
“It’s nice and unexpected for everyone that the national team is getting such a warm reception,” he said.
“People wave their arms at the sight of us and try to support us.”
Russia are on four points after a 1-1 draw with Poland on Tuesday and their final game of the group stage is against Greece on Saturday.
A draw will be enough to put the Russians into the quarterfinals, while the Greeks need a win to have any chance of progressing.
CSKA Moscow midfielder Dzagoev has 22 caps for Russia and has scored seven goals for his country, three of them at Euro 2012.
