MOSCOW, November 12 (RIA Novosti) - Andrei Arshavin and teammates could face an 80,000-strong crowd of masked supporters when Russia take on Slovenia in a World Cup play-off in Moscow on Saturday.
Russia is currently in the midst of a swine and seasonal flu outbreak, and the decision to hand out medical masks at the Luzhniki stadium ahead of the first-leg tie was taken at a meeting involving law enforcement and medical bodies.
Although mask-wearing shop assistants and pedestrians have become a common sight in the Russian capital in recent weeks, no one will force fans to wear the masks at the game.
"We can't chuck someone out of the stadium just because he isn't wearing a mask," top Moscow sport official Mikhail Stepanyants told RIA Novosti.
With Guus Hiddink's side expecting a tricky tie against the defensively-strong Slovenians, Stepanyants was keen to stress that the masks would not dampen home support.
"It might make it difficult for some people to smoke or drink, but that is good for their health," he said.
