President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin has signed a law on the introduction of a special passport for fans, known as Fan ID. The information appeared on the official legal information website. The law is set to come into force on June 1, 2022. It is still unclear on which specific sporting events the passport will be introduced.
According to official information, the document is needed for the identification of visitors, participants, and organizers of sporting events. Personal identification is necessary to ensure safety. Tickets for events will only be sold to people who have a Fan ID.
The ‘fan passport’ can be obtained on the ‘government services’ website, but naturally, issuance may be refused. If a fan or participant has previously violated public order at a stadium, not necessarily in Russia, or if a person plans to commit illegal actions, they will not receive a Fan ID. Information about the refusal will come via SMS or email, after which the decision can be appealed in court.
Fan ID was introduced in Russia during the Confederations Cup in 2017. A year later, the system was implemented at the FIFA World Cup, providing passport holders with a range of benefits.
