Dinamo Minsk fans set for soccer game boycott over mistreatment by police

The main group of FC Dinamo Minsk fans prepared to boycott the soccer club's game against FC Minsk on June 19 in protest against the way they are treated by police in stadiums.

In a statement released earlier this week, the fan group complained that each active supporter of the club had his passport data recorded by police before each game.

According to the group, the fans are not allowed to leave their section in the stands without being escorted by riot policemen and are ordered to wait there for long periods after each game.

"Fans want to enjoy equal treatment rather than be second-rate people and potential criminals in the eyes of police officers," the statement said.

The fans apologized to the team for the boycott. "We have to leave you without support in this difficult time as what happens inside stadiums still humiliates human dignity. The time has come to get down to action to improve the situation in the stands," they said.