Russia to extend football fans' visa-free regime to the end of 2018

Hundreds of thousands of football fans who visited Russia for the World Cup have been handed a parting gift by Vladimir Putin: the freedom to return to the world’s biggest country without a visa, any time before the end of the year.

Russia allowed football fans to travel to Russia without visas to attend the World Cup once they obtained fan IDs that were issued to supporters with match tickets.

According to Russian news agency Sputnik, the Russian leader expressed hope that fans will take advantage of this opportunity and "come to Russia more than once with friends and members of their families."

"I think that we will provide visa-free entrance to Russia for foreign fans, who currently have fan IDs, until the end of 2018. This will be a multiple entry visa-free regime," Putin told reporters.

The leader also expressed the hope that fans will take advantage of this opportunity and “come to Russia more than once with friends and members of their families”. This suggests that holders may be able to bring others without their need to apply for a visa.

It is not clear when such a directive could come into effect. But the move could presage a reduction in red tape for tourists seeking to visit Moscow and St Petersburg, and to explore Russia’s vast hinterland.

Putin has taken part in the closing ceremony of the championship and the ceremony of awarding the winner.

France beat Croatia 4-2 at Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium to lift their second World Cup trophy.