Russian lawmaker aims to make football hooliganism a sport (The Associated Press)

A Russian lawmaker has proposed an unorthodox solution to the country's problems with football hooliganism ahead of next year's World Cup - legalize it and make it a spectator sport. Organized groups of Russian fans, many with martial arts training, fought English fans on the streets of Marseille during last year's European Championship. In a statement on the website of the nationalist LDPR party, Lebedev said organized brawls ''could turn fans' aggression in a peaceful direction.'' He also claimed it would serve as an ''example'' for English fans, who he characterized as undisciplined louts and poor fighters.