Debate Over Fan ID Policy in Russian Football and a Political Viewpoint
A Russian deputy chairman of the State Duma and a 2024 presidential candidate, Vladislav Davankov, shared his views on the Fan ID program during an interview. He indicated there could be an opportunity to attend Russian Premier League matches without a Fan ID starting in 2025.
Davankov explained that his team intends to bring a proposal to the State Duma in the autumn aimed at canceling the Fan ID system. He noted that the fall session would focus on Fan ID legislation, arguing that the current system has not effectively attracted true supporters to the stands.
“In the autumn we will work on Fan ID. We reviewed the Russian Championship again and observed empty stands or crowds showing little sporting enthusiasm. It was clear those were not true fans. Could the RPL have games in the spring without Fan ID? Yes, we will submit a bill to remove it,” Davankov stated.
Legislation known as the Fan Identification Law was passed in December 2021 and began enforcement on June 1, 2022. From March 2023 onward, attendance at matches in the Russian Championship and the Russian Cup final required a Fan ID at entry.
During the period of enforcement, active supporters of most Russian Premier League clubs, with the notable exception of Akhmat Grozny, announced boycotts of matches where the Fan ID was required. The point of contention centered on whether the card accurately reflected fan engagement or simply served as a gatekeeping mechanism.
The discussion around Fan ID ties into broader questions about how sports events are organized, how fans are counted, and what constitutes genuine support. Observers note that policy shifts may affect club revenues, stadium atmosphere, and national perceptions of football culture. The debate includes questions about accessibility, security, and identity verification at large-scale sporting events.
In a broader sense, the topic intersects with how sports governance balances safety and openness, how leagues measure fan involvement, and how government policy can shape the fan experience in major competitions. The conversation continues as lawmakers weigh potential reforms that could alter attendance rules and the way fans participate in Russian football.
Messi’s past performances and the follow-up discourse around the 2024 Olympic Games have been referenced in various national discussions about sports governance, often illustrating how international attention can influence local policy debates about competition formats, fan engagement, and event security. The evolving narrative highlights how leadership, athlete visibility, and fan infrastructure interact within the sports ecosystem.