- guardian.co.uk, Sunday September 8 2002 00.42 BST
The invasion centred on the tourist mecca of Red Square. Fans came from all over Europe and the former Soviet Union, paying as little as 20 euros for a place in the Lokomotiv Stadium.
Moscow police were out in force after fears of a repeat of World Cup riots when hundreds of drunken Russian fans rampaged through the streets after the country lost to Japan. Reports of clashes between both sets of fans were later played down by police.
But it is understood scuffles broke out in central Moscow in the afternoon, one at a McDonald's in the main street of Tverskaya, and the a second at the Rossiay hotel near Red Square. Each brawl involved about 80 Russian and Irish fans.
Two people were taken to hospital after the McDonald's incident, and eight were hurt at the hotel.
Ireland slumped to defeat after giving away two first half goals before rallying back with two from Gary Doherty and Clinton Morrison. Russia, however, wrapped the game up with the help of a Phil Babb own goal in the last minute.
