Brawl By Russian Soccer Fans Stops Game

At least 15 people were detained by police after fighting between rival fans forced a Russian Premier League soccer game to be stopped.

Fans from Arsenal Tula and the visiting Torpedo Moscow team began the melee in the middle of the April 5 match after tearing down barriers separating the two teams' supporters.

Arsenal officials in Tula claimed that Torpedo Moscow fans started the fighting that forced the referee to stop the game and order players to leave the field.

Order in the stands was later restored and Torpedo won the match 3-1.

Sergei Cheban, the Premier League's executive director, said the Torpedo club can expect "serious punishment."

Fan violence is a frequent problem in the Russian Premier League and international soccer officials have criticized Russian fans over several racist incidents just three years before Russia will host the World Cup.

Based on reporting by Reuters and RT