The Nigerians fan (Image courtesy Reuters)
A Super Eagles fan is seeking political asylum in Russia, due to ”political persecution in his Nigeria,” according to Russian media reports.
The Nigerian, 31, is reported to have arrived in Russia for the World Cup before asking police in the Perovo district of Moscow for political asylum.
Moscow Times reports that since the World Cup began, dozens of people who entered Russia using World Cup fan identity documents have attempted to enter neighbouring European countries and request asylum.
And according to human rights groups, it is difficult for asylum seekers to obtain refugee status in Russia.
They say that only 582 people were admitted as refugees in 2017, regarded as the lowest number in the past decade.
“The man stated that he had participated in anti-government protests in his country and that his life was currently threatened by Nigerian government forces,” a police source was cited as saying.
The asylum request has been transferred to a local migration services branch of the Interior Ministry, RBC reported.