Russia to ban laser pointers during football matches

Moscow: Russia`s Premier League intends to ban the use of laser pointers by fans at football stadiums, a top official said.

"We are very serious about this. The issue is that this problem can only be resolved with the adoption of legal acts, since laser pointers are not prohibited for civilian use and there are no laws concerning this issue," said the league`s security chief Alexander Meitin. The ban would come in the form of a federal law, he said. During a match Saturday between Spartak and Dynamo Moscow, fans used laser pointers to try to blind the goalkeepers of both clubs. He said the league will instruct staff at all stadiums to confiscate laser pointers before matches. IANS