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Russian football hooligans are sending death threats to gay and transgender England fans heading to the World Cup next month.

They have threatened to stab homosexual Three Lions followers who make the trip to Russia to watch the team play, it has been revealed.

Some threats have been so menacing that Pride In Football - an alliance of LGBT football fan groups - has had to report them to police.

The group has received emails telling them that fans from the LGBT community will be rooted out and attacked during Russia 2018.

(Image: Getty Images Europe)

Joe White, Pride in Football's campaign leader, said the threats were being taken seriously.

"We've had people say that if they find us they'll stab us, so it's been a mixture but they're being dealt with seriously and those investigations are still ongoing," he said.

Russia is one of the most intolerant countries in the world.

(Image: SWNS.com)

Last week the Football Supporters' Federation - in collaboration with the Football Association, and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office - issued a guide advising LGBT fans heading to the tournament not to publicly display their sexuality.

Many assumed it means they will not be able to hold hands or kiss in public. Others questioned whether they'd be able to fly rainbow flags.

However Mr White said the guidelines "had to be very cautious", adding that he wouldn't be shying away from showing his true colours while in Russia.

"I could go out and almost go back into the closet and act butch but that kind of plays exactly into what we are trying to show is an issue," he said.

(Image: PA)

"We shouldn't have to feel that we have to behave any differently than we would.

"It's not like I'm going to be sticking my tongue down people's throats or anything. I'm going out there for the football and to experience the World Cup."

Russia decriminalised same-sex interactions in 1993 but public attitude remains intolerant.

(Image: PA)

In 2017, the country was ranked 48th out of 49 European countries for LGBT rights.

But with the eyes of the world watching, activists hope the tournament will provide an opportunity to promote equal rights in a country infamous for its opposition to them.

(Image: Stephen Pond)

"If it's safe to do so we'll be taking rainbow flags, hopefully getting some form of visibility in stadiums to show that LGBT football fans do exist and, just as much as any fan, we're a valid part of the game," said Mr White.

"Unless there is someone kind of putting their head above the parapet, it's very easy for them to say we don't exist.

"I think we definitely have a responsibility to highlight any form of inequality. Hopefully teams, players and managers can come into that conversation when they feel safe to do so."

There is a history of violence between English and Russian football fans, with one particularly bloody clash during Euro 2016 dubbed 'The Battle of Marseille'.

Tensions between the two countries are at an all-time high following the poisoning of former Russian military intelligence officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury earlier this year.