Unruly travelling supporters of Liverpool and Manchester United could be in for an extended stay in Russia if they’re found guilty of hooliganism during this week’s trip to Moscow.

An estimated 2,000 fans from both clubs are expected to travel to the Russian capital, where Liverpool takes on Spartak Moscow on Tuesday before Manchester United clashes with CSKA Moscow the following day.

It’s believed that both Premier League teams have coordinated with Russian security forces to avoid trouble, according to Andy Hunter of the Guardian.

Fans of the Moscow-based clubs have been far from innocent in recent times, with UEFA charging Spartak earlier this month after a flare was shot toward a match official during a Champions League encounter with Maribor.

But the head of the Russian Football Union’s security committee, Vladimir Markin, delivered a stern warning for anyone found guilty of hooliganism, saying that English supporters will face the same “suitable punishment” that would normally be issued to Russian citizens.

“I don’t want to scare anyone but I warn those who plan to come here not to support their side and see the country but to commit hooliganism: the law is the same for all, not just for Russians,” Markin said. “Those who break it will face a suitable punishment, possibly in the form of a long stay in Russia, in conditions our guests won’t like.”

Liverpool and United fans have also been warned against wearing team colours and travelling alone in Moscow.

There’s been a heightened sense that there could possibly be trouble between supporters from the two nations since the European Championship in the summer of 2016, when various scuffles between fans broke out on the streets of Marseille ahead of England’s match against Russia. Violence also occurred inside the stadium when Russian supporters spilled over into the English section at the Stade Velodrome and began kicking and punching while fans ran for safety.

However, last season provided a glimmer of hope over security concerns when United fans were welcomed with open arms ahead of a Europa League fixture in Rostov, Russia, where blankets were handed out to the travelling supporters.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)

CHICAGO — Alejandro Villanueva’s emergence from the Soldier Field tunnel during Sunday’s national anthem surprised many members of the Pittsburgh Steelers, a source told ESPN.

Villanueva, a former Army Ranger who served terms in Afghanistan, was the lone Steeler to appear despite an expectation from Saturday’s players-only meeting that the entire team would remain in the locker room, the source said.

The starting left tackle was a key figure in the team’s protest planning because of his background. Players wanted to accommodate Villanueva, who expressed during their 30-minute session that he didn’t want to be singled out, the source said. Moving the protest off the field entirely was a way to keep solidarity without isolating an individual.

“That’s where the confusion came in,” the source of the anthem sequence.

• 

  Players for the Steelers stayed off the field during the anthem prior to their game Sunday, except for Army vet Alejandro Villanueva, who stood outside with a hand over his heart. The Seahawks and Titans also stayed in the tunnel during the anthem.

• 

  A political action committee that supports President Trump began an advertising campaign Sunday that encourages NFL fans to turn off games and watch a patriotic movie instead, according to a source close to the committee.

• 

  According to CBSSports.com, Lawrence Timmons visited the Steelers during the Dolphins’ impromptu Week 1 bye. He went AWOL from the Dolphins a week later, which led to his indefinite suspension.

Arsene Wenger isn’t a fan of the opening round of the Champions League.

And it apparently has nothing to do with being forced to watch from home after Arsenal missed out on this year’s edition of the lucrative club competition.

Wenger, whose Arsenal side failed to qualify for the first time in 19 seasons following the north London team’s fifth place finish last term, now claims that the Champions League group stage has lost its lustre and that there’s only a couple of matches worth watching.

“I think that in the group stage, there are not many interesting games,” Wenger told reporters, according to The Telegraph’s Jonathan Liew. “You choose (to watch) only one or two games.

“It’s a routine now, the Champions League, in the group stage. Look at the audiences. It has lost some attraction power.”

Arsenal enjoyed years of success in the opening stage of the competition but struggled in the knockout round, where the Premier League side was infamously eliminated in seven successive seasons, including last year’s embarrassing 10-2 aggregate loss to Bayern Munich.

Despite his criticism, Wenger admitted that he misses the excitement of competing in the tournament but stopped short of drawing comparisons to the second-tier Europa League as his side gets prepared to clash with BATE Borisov on Thursday.

“Honestly, yes,” Wenger responded when asked if he missed the Champions League. “But I must say, I have had nearly 200 games in the Champions League, so I can feel privileged.”

Arsenal will look to secure its second win of the Europa League group stage during a trip to Belarus after winning the opening tie 3-1 over FC Koln.

Washington Redskins running back Rob Kelley is expected to miss Sunday night’s game against the Oakland Raiders, and tight end Jordan Reed will be a game-time decision but also is unlikely to play, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Both suffered rib injuries in last Sunday’s 27-20 win over the Los Angeles Rams.

Kelley, who is officially listed as questionable with a rib cartilage injury, was in the midst of arguably his best day with the Redskins, gaining 78 yards on 12 carries on Sunday, before leaving in the second quarter with the injury.

“When it happened, on a scale of 1 to 10, it was 10. Right now, it’s probably like a 5,” Kelley said Wednesday. “At the game, it was hard to breathe and my back started locking up. But right now, I’m pretty good.”

If Kelley can’t play, Samaje Perine would take over the bulk of the carries, with Chris Thompson still serving in his third-down role.