One dead in riots after Russian World Cup defeat

One man has died and at least 20 have been injured in riots in Russia following their World Cup defeat to Japan.

One man has died and at least 20 have been injured in riots in Russia following their World Cup defeat to Japan.

Reports from Russia said the man died from stab wounds. A press photographer says he saw a mutilated corpse left lying on the street during the chaos in Moscow.

Thousands went on the rampage, overturning cars and setting fire to them in the city centre.

The trouble erupted just outside the Kremlin and lasted for more than an hour.

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Russian fans had been watching their national team lose 1-0 to the co-hosts on a big screen set up nearby.

Witnesses say several cars had been set on fire near the State Duma, Russia's lower house of parliament, located half a mile from the Kremlin.

They also broke shop windows, fought among themselves, throwing empty beer bottles at each other. Some of them were wrapped in the Russian tricolor.

Thousands of fans marched through the streets chanting "Forward, Russia!"

The Interfax news agency also reported that five exchange students from Japan had been beaten on a nearby street.

The riots erupted after Japan scored its goal but before the match had ended. Police officers did not arrive until almost an hour later when most of the aggressive fans had left the area.

PA