MOSCOW, January 28 - RAPSI. The State Duma will hear the draft law on fans in late February or early March, said Igor Ananskikh, head of the State Duma Committee on Physical Fitness and Sports.

He said that the hearings will include an open meeting to which fans and organizers of sporting events will be invited to discuss any necessary amendments.

Last Sunday, fans held a national meeting which was attended by Minister of Sport Vitaly Mutko, President of the Russian Football Union Nikolai Tolstykh and head of the Russian Association of Fans Alexander Shprygin.

The Russian government submitted the bill to the State Duma to regulate law and order at sporting events. The authors of the bill proposed a new system whereby stewards rather than the police would ensure order in the stands.

The bill to increase criminal liability for violations committed at stadiums proposes banning those who cause a public disturbance from attending sporting events for between one month and one year. The corresponding provision has been proposed to be introduced to the Code of Administrative Offences.

Violators could be fined from between 3,000 rubles ($96) and 5,000 rubles ($161) or detained for up to 15 days. The Administrative Offences Code is being supplemented accordingly.

These spectator violations carry penalties including a fine ranging from 500 rubles ($16) to 1,000 rubles ($32), or up to 160 hours of compulsory community service, plus a possible ban on attending sports events for up to six months.

If a violation results in the suspension or disruption of a match, violators can be fined from between 1,000 rubles ($32) and 2,000 rubles ($64), or detained for up to 15 days. In addition, violators can be banned from attending sports events for up to one year.

The latest incident of this kind occurred last November, during the match between Zenit St. Petersburg and Dynamo Moscow. The game was called off after Dynamo goalkeeper Anton Shunin was injured when a firecracker thrown from the stands exploded near him.

A criminal case was subsequently initiated for disorderly conduct.