Nigerian fans have been banned from carrying live chickens into the Kaliningrad Stadium for the crucial World Cup Group D opening match against Croatia.

This was revealed by the Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Kaliningrad region, Andrei Ermak in a chat with reporters.

He said: “Our information center MCH-2018 receives a lot of various questions: fans from Nigeria asked if it’s possible to go to the stadium with a chicken, it’s their symbol, the citizens are with them at all matches, we told them that to pass a live chicken in any case it is impossible.”

Ermak, however, revealed that fans can carry the live chickens with them in other places. He said: “We will of course advise them where the chicken can be bought.  We are ready to satisfy the most eccentric inquiries.”

He went on to say that around 130,000 to 150,000 fans are being expected in the region of Kaliningrad as he revealed how the 35-000-seater Kaliningrad Stadium will be allocated to fans.

According to him, 15,000 seats will be for Russian fans while 10,000 seats apiece would be for fans of countries playing and fans of other countries.

Four games will be played at the Stadium and they include Croatia v Nigeria (Group D) on June 16, Serbia v Switzerland (Group E) on June 22, Spain v Morocco (Group B) on June 25 and England v Belgium (Group G) on June 28.