Battle of Kaliningrad: Russia bans Nigeria fans from bringing CHICKENS

Nigeria fans have been banned from bringing chickens into the Kalingrad Arena,  ahead of Saturday’s opening  FIFA World Cup group D clash against Croatia, Russia Culture Ministry has announced.

Supporters of the Nigeria team are known to take animals into football stadiums, as part of tradition, believing it brings luck to the team

Sportinglife.ng gathered that members of the Nigeria Supporters Football Club approached the Minister of Culture in Kaliningard Andrei Ermak, who turned down their request.

“Fans from Nigeria asked if it’s possible to go to the stadium with a chicken. “We told them that it is not possible,” He told Russia’s Interfax news agency.

Federation of International Football (FIFA) had earlier banned  the fans from bringing chickens.

Nigeria will play Croatia at the Kaliningrad Stadium, where England will face Belgium on June 28.

The African side will then face Iceland on June 22 before playing Argentina on June 26.

Fans were previously banned from bringing chickens to a game in Johannesburg at the 2010 World Cup.

The World Cup kicked off yesterday with a 5-0 victory for Russia over Saudi Arabia.