Fifa World Cup 2018: England players use bug spray as swarm of gnats flies into their eyes and mouths during Tunisia match
Players cover themselves with insect repellent before the game and at halftime in Russia, but to little effect
England and Tunisia players swatted away swarms of gnats that flew into their eyes and mouths during their opening World Cup game in Russia’s riverside city of Volgograd on Monday.
The area around Volgograd is known for its swamps and wide rivers, the perfect breeding ground for insects during the hot and dry summer in the Russian south.
Russian media said authorities used planes in the months before the game to spray the area around the stadium, which is next to the massive Volga river, with a special substance designed to kill off the bugs.
Authorities also tried to regulate the flow of water at a nearby hydroelectric dam which locals believe has a direct effect on the number of insects.
Players still had to cover themselves with bug spray before the game and at halftime, but that seemed to have little effect.
